Dainik Bhaskar bets on broadcast veteran to crack the south

NEW DELHI: Dainik Bhaskar Group is punching south. The Hindi newspaper giant has hired Durga Chakraborty as corporate sales head for south India, banking on her 20-year track record across broadcast, print and digital to unlock growth in markets where it needs it most.

Chakraborty arrives from Sony Pictures Networks India, where she spent eight years as associate vice president leading sales for SAB TV, the broadcaster’s free-to-air channels, kids’ programming and English entertainment cluster. Those who’ve worked with her say she’s handled heavyweight client mandates and steered regional expansion strategies across platforms.

At Dainik Bhaskar, she’ll report to chief operating officer for corporate sales Mayar Penkar. Her brief: drive corporate sales strategy, design customer-centric offerings and build teams capable of delivering on DB Corp’s advertising and brand solutions ambitions in the region.

The appointment signals intent. Dainik Bhaskar is scaling its southern footprint, and Chakraborty’s hire suggests it’s serious about translating regional presence into advertising revenue. Penkar reckons her industry chops and client focus will help forge stronger market partnerships.

Her career spans stints at Turner Broadcasting, where she grew regional revenues by 40 per cent, and Radio City, along with a detour to Dallas selling digital products for the Dallas Observer. Now she’s back, tasked with making the south pay for India’s biggest Hindi newspaper group.

Whether she can crack a region dominated by vernacular players and entrenched competitors will determine if this bet pays off.