ITV

Category: People

  • Turner Broadcasting System ups Jeremy Legg as chief technology officer

    Turner Broadcasting System ups Jeremy Legg as chief technology officer

    MUMBAI: Turner Broadcasting System has elevated Jeremy Legg to the role of chief technology officer (CTO).

     

    Legg is currently head of technology strategy and product monetization for Turner.

     

    As CTO, Legg will develop and oversee the execution of Turner’s technology strategy, direct infrastructure investments and manage technology resources to maximize existing linear and digital businesses. He will build new relationships and forge new partnerships with content creators, linear and digital distributors and technology providers, as well as identify business and technology opportunities, investments and acquisitions that will drive growth across all Turner platforms. 

     

    Legg will report to Turner executive vice president and chief financial officer Pascal Desroches.

     

    Turner chairman and CEO John Martin said, “Under Jeremy’s leadership and the strategy he has put in motion, Turner has made significant strides in our digital businesses and core technology infrastructure. As CTO, the skill set and experience Jeremy brings to the table will enable us to capitalize on new business opportunities in a rapidly changing media landscape and position Turner as a digital innovator in the marketplace.”

     

    Legg added, “The acceleration of technological change and shift in how consumers view media continue to create a number of opportunities in the marketplace. Turner is already a trailblazer in the digital movement, from TV Everywhere to the way CNN gathers and reports news. I look forward to working with Turner’s Executive team and building upon the success of our existing digital business and infrastructure.”

     

    In his previous role, Legg developed Turner’s technology strategy and oversaw software development and digital infrastructure. In addition, as the former senior vice president of business development and multi-platform distribution for TBS, Inc., he oversaw TV Everywhere and all non-linear and product distribution and strategy across broadband, iTV and wireless.

     

    Prior to joining Turner, Legg was AOL, Inc vice president of business strategy and development. He has also held senior leadership roles with Oracle and Accenture.

  • BBC Worldwide appoints Kelvin Yau as general manager, Greater China

    BBC Worldwide appoints Kelvin Yau as general manager, Greater China

    MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide has appointed Kelvin Yau as general manager, Greater China with effect from 17 August, 2015.

     

    In his new role, Yau will oversee BBC Worldwide’s channel and content distribution, local production, affiliate distribution and brand development activities across Greater China including Hong Kong, Taiwan and China.

     

    He will also be responsible for BBC Worldwide’s format and brand licensing in these territories.

     

    BBC Worldwide Asia EVP David Weiland said, “We are very excited to have someone of Kelvin’s caliber to join BBC Worldwide. He brings with him an excellent track record in business development to the team. Kelvin’s vast experience will also serve as a catalyst for BBC’s continual growth in the highly dynamic Greater China market.”

     

    Yau joins BBC Worldwide from The Economist Group where he was managing director, China and Taiwan. Prior to The Economist Group, Yau held positions at Euromoney Publications and IR-VONline.com.

     

    Yau said, “BBC Worldwide has accomplished tremendous success in building the reach and reputation of BBC overseas. As an avid admirer of the British creativity advocated by BBC, I am looking forward to joining BBC Worldwide and helping promote its quality content across Greater China.”

     

    Yau will be based in Beijing. He joins BBC Worldwide SVP & GM – Southeast Asia Monty Ghai, SVP & GM – India Myleeta Aga and GM (Northeast Asia) Soojin Chung, reporting to Weiland.

  • Reliance Broadcast Network ups Ashwin Padmanabhan as COO

    Reliance Broadcast Network ups Ashwin Padmanabhan as COO

    MUMBAI: For the second time in a year, Reliance Broadcast Network Limited (RBNL) has promoted executive vice president Ashwin Padmanabhan.

     

    In his new role as COO, Padmanabhan has stepped into the shoes of former COO Lavneesh Gupta, who quit earlier this year. He will continue to report to Reliance Broadcast Network CEO Tarun Katial.

     

    In May 2015, Padmanabhan was promoted as EVP, while he continued to handle his existing role as Big FM business head.

     

    Padmanabhan will now not only look after the radio business of RBNL’s Big FM, but also oversee the company’s television channels Big Magic and Big Magic Ganga.

     

    It may be recalled that after Gupta quit in May, RBNL went through a re-shuffle wherein the company’s chief financial officer Asheesh Chatterjee was appointed as executive vice president and was given the additional responsibility of COO.

     

    Padmanabhan, who was Big FM’s national business head since 2013, has been with the company since its inception, starting his tenure as cluster director at Andhra Pradesh. Since then, he has held various designations in the company.

     

    He holds an Engineering degree along with Masters in Business Administration from BIM, Trichy. He has worked in diverse business sectors including petrochemical, media and other services. Prior to joining Big FM, he was with Visage Media Services as founder and director of content development.

  • IBF appoints Girish Srivastava as secretary general

    IBF appoints Girish Srivastava as secretary general

    MUMBAI: The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) has appointed Girish Srivastava as secretary general.

     

    He has worked in the area of policy, regulations, promotion of cross-border trade in services, research, strategic expansion of existing businesses and development of new markets.

     

    In a career spanning over 24 years, Srivastava has worked with NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Service Companies), Bechtel Corporation, Bechtel Management Consulting, Reliance Industries, Toyo Engineering India as well as on projects mainly funded by international donor agencies.

     

    “I, along with rest of the IBF members welcome Girish and wish him success for his new assignment,” said IBF president and Star India CEO Uday Shankar.

  • Arun Aggrawal elevated to Board of Directors in iTV Network

    Arun Aggrawal elevated to Board of Directors in iTV Network

    NEW DELHI: iTV Network has elevated Arun Aggrawal to the Board of Directors of Direct News Pvt. Ltd. and Information TV Pvt. Ltd. 

     

    Prior to this appointment, he was iTV Network group CFO.

     

    Aggarwal has decades of experience in business valuations, due diligence, corporate restructuring, corporate funding, M&A advisory along with the crucial functions of credit control, finance and commercial aspects in the media and IT industry. He has held various senior leadership positions at various international & national TV network including Zee & ANN7. He was also instrumental in driving credit control systems initiatives for the media industry.

     

    iTV Network MD Kartikeya Sharma said, “The induction to the Board of highly competent professionals from within our ranks is a big step forward for iTV Network. Mr. Aggarwal’s rich experience across the financial spectrum combined with the passion for business and people have contributed significantly to the growth of our organisation. I look forward to working with him closely as we build on the momentum of recent months which will surely help the network reach the next level of growth.”

     

    Aggarwal added, “I am honoured to have been asked to take this role, and excited about the possibilities that lie in our future and I look forward to working with the entire  iTV Network team as we embark on this exciting journey.”

  • Network 18 ropes in Times’ Rajat Nigam as group CTO

    Network 18 ropes in Times’ Rajat Nigam as group CTO

    MUMBAI: Strengthening its technological team, Network 18 has roped in Times Network’s Rajat Nigam as group chief technology officer (CTO). 

     

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Nigam says, “I am excited to be in the team and my role in Network18 will be managing the technology and technical infrastructure of all Network 18 products be it television, radio or digital.”

     

    Reliance Infocomm, which is scheduled to launch Jio and 4G by December 2015, will use Nigam’s expertise for the development of that sector too.

     

    Prior to joining Network18, Nigam was senior vice president and head technology and broadcast operations at Times Network. He is an industry veteran with over 20 years of experience in the field of television, radio, sports etc. 

  • Viacom names Alex Berkett as SVP, corporate development

    Viacom names Alex Berkett as SVP, corporate development

    MUMBAI: Viacom Inc has appointed Alex Berkett to the position of senior vice president, corporate development.

     

    In this role, Berkett will lead the company’s global corporate development and mergers and acquisitions functions. Based in New York, he will report directly to Viacom CFO Wade Davis.

     

    Berkett will identify and develop growth opportunities for Viacom and its brands, including partnerships, acquisitions, investments and joint ventures. He will also work closely with senior executives across the company to advise on and lead deal negotiations.

     

    Berkett joins Viacom from Townsquare Media, a publicly-held diversified local media company he co-founded in 2010. At Townsquare, he served as executive vice president, responsible for corporate development, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, investor relations and a variety of other senior functions.

     

    “We’re thrilled to welcome Alex to Viacom, where he will oversee our efforts to forge new partnerships, explore opportunities in innovative new businesses and help advance the company’s strategic goals. Viacom is committed to continued investment in key areas of growth, and Alex’s deep knowledge of media, strong transactional track record and entrepreneurial background make him the right choice to expand our capabilities in new and exciting ways. Alex is a proven leader and has the skills and experience to hit the ground running,” said Davis.

     

    Prior to his work at Townsquare, Berkett worked in J.P. Morgan’s Technology, Media & Telecom Investment Banking Group, which he joined following the firm’s acquisition of Bear, Stearns & Co. Berkett spent eleven years in the investment banking division of Bear Stearns, rising to managing director, where he focused on merger and acquisition advisory for media and entertainment companies.

  • 21st Century Fox ups Kristopher Jones to VP – government relations

    21st Century Fox ups Kristopher Jones to VP – government relations

    MUMBAI: 21st Century Fox has elevated Kristopher Jones to vice president, government relations.

     

    He will report to the company’s executive vice president of government relations Mike Regan.  

     

    Jones continues to focus his advocacy efforts on issues impacting the company’s television businesses, including retransmission consent, satellite television laws, and spectrum-related legislation.  He recently added to his responsibilities the role of treasurer of the company’s political action committee, FOXPAC, and assumed responsibility for the company’s international trade policy portfolio. 

     

    Regan said, “Kris has consistently impressed me and our colleagues with his deep grasp of complex matters, strategic thinking and effectiveness as an advocate on a range of key issues for our businesses. I am pleased to recognize his contributions as well as his growing portfolio with this well-deserved promotion.”

     

    Jones served as director, government relations since joining the company in 2011.  Prior to that, he was vice president, communications at the National Association of Broadcasters. 

  • Danielle Maged joins Fox Networks Group as EVP – global partnerships

    Danielle Maged joins Fox Networks Group as EVP – global partnerships

    MUMBAI: In a move designed to maximize its portfolio of industry-leading content to better serve advertising partners and drive revenue, Fox Networks Group (FNG) has named former StubHub global head of partnerships & business development Danielle Maged to the newly created position of executive vice president of global partnerships.

     

    Maged will report to FNG president, advertising sales Toby Byrne.

     

    Maged will be responsible for leveraging FNG’s media assets across its domestic and international properties to develop innovative, customized marketing solutions for the industry’s premier advertisers. In addition, she and the global partnerships team will be tasked with creating, developing, and executing strategic alliances in order to drive revenue and enhance profitability on behalf of FNG platforms, including Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox Sports, FX, National Geographic Channel, Fox International Channels, and more.

     

    “Danielle is a trailblazer. Her track record of developing innovative, large-scale domestic and international corporate partnerships speaks for itself. She is a gifted strategic thinker who will be an asset to Fox Networks Group to help us meet the complex marketing needs of our advertisers and drive revenue growth for FNG,” said Byrne.

     

    Fox Networks Group president and COO Randy Freer added, “We believe that ideas, relationships, and execution between 21st Century Fox and marketers will create real growth opportunities and connect fans of Fox content to the best advertising brands in the world.  Danielle will team with Toby and Joe Marchese, FNG’s President of Advanced Advertising Products, to build the next generation of relationships between 21CF and global brands.”

     

    Maged joins Fox from RedBird Capital, the private equity firm founded by former Goldman Sachs executive Gerry Cardinale, where she was a strategic advisor and operating consultant for their entertainment and sports verticals.

     

    Prior to RedBird, Maged was an executive at eBay Inc., where she served as global head of partnerships & business development at StubHub, responsible for the strategy, negotiation and execution of over one hundred domestic and international partnerships for the company. A 12-year veteran of StubHub, and a steward of its growth from inception, Maged was a member of StubHub’s executive team and worked very closely with parent company eBay on larger corporate partnerships involving PayPal and eBay.

     

    With a deep understanding of the ever-evolving digital landscape, Maged carries over 20 years of experience building brands and generating revenue in the entertainment and digital industries, including serving in roles at the NBA, ESPN, and Madison Square Garden.

  • Indian journalist Rama Pandey presented lifetime achievement award in London

    Indian journalist Rama Pandey presented lifetime achievement award in London

    NEW DELHI: Former BBC Hindi radio journalist and Doordarshan newsreader Rama Pandey was honoured with the ‘Bharat Gaurav Award’ for her contribution towards Journalism and Activism with a Lifetime Achievement Award in London recently.

     

    The award was given by NRI Organisation Sanskriti Yuva Sangstha at the House of Commons in the British Parliament. 

     

    The other notable awardees included PepsiCo chaiman & CEO Indra K Nooyi, Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, former hockey captain Major Dhayan Chand, and ‘Google Boy’ Kautilya.

     

    Pandey had gained fame with her series Jaane Apna Desh. With over 250 episodes, the series has preserved India’s forgotten heritage and culture. The writer, poet, journalist, and artist has brought on television some interesting and unknown facts about India.

     

    Receiving the award, Pandey said, “The kind of stories, histories and the mystery revolving around India are worth exploring and talking about. I have just fed my curiosity and with every curious question. I am glad I could contribute to my country.”

     

    Over the years, personalities like actor Manoj Kumar, singer Jagjit Singh, creative ad filmmaker Piyush Pandey, and many others have been honoured with this prestigious award. The Sanskriti Yuva Sanstha has been working for the past 17 years with a vision to enhance and help Indian culture and civilization to prosper, grow and mark its presence in not only in India but all around world through series of innovative social programmes.

     

    Pandey has had an extensive career of 40 years in diverse fields like broadcasting, acting/theatre, teaching, writing, programme presentation, event management and film production / direction at national and international levels.

     

    She began her career as a child artist. Her professional experience includes working with DD India and BBC Hindi and her film industry experience includes acting in eight art films, directing 300 TV films, including four 35mm full length feature films.

     

    She worked with Doordarshan as a producer at a time when DD was the only source of household entertainment and did some pioneering projects for rural audiences. At BBC Hindi Service at London, she simultaneously contributed regularly to BBC Asian Television and significantly towards some major field projects of the BBC in Asia.

     

    She has an illustrious writing career with several serials, stories, programmes, films, documentaries to her credit. She has written, produced and directed several multi-episode serials (including Shabash Begum, Suno Kahani, Jaane Apna Desh), and several hundred tele-films, news capsules & documentaries.

     

    She was the first woman producer – director from India at BBC Radio, London (1981), was the first producer – director – presenter of Indian Satellite Programmes SITE in 1972-73 and was the first presenter of Yuv Vani.