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Tag: CEO

  • Leadership Change at Diageo India

    Leadership Change at Diageo India

    MUMBAI: Diageo India, the nation’s leading beverage alcohol company, has announced a leadership transition. Praveen Someshwar, former MD and CEO of HT Media, will take over as CEO-Designate on 1 March  2025, succeeding Hina Nagarajan, who moves to a global executive role at Diageo globally.

    Hina, who led Diageo India through a period of remarkable growth, credited with doubling its market capitalisation to over Rs 1 trillion, will step down on 1 April 2025. Under her tenure, Diageo India expanded its portfolio and bolstered its market share across categories.

    Diageo chief executive Debra Crew said: “Under Hina’s leadership, Diageo India has combined strong top-line growth and margin expansion with impactful strategic initiatives, reshaping and premiumising our portfolio and positioning Diageo India as an innovative leader in the AlcoBev industry. As she moves on to a new role within Diageo, she leaves a significant track record of success and a highly engaged, talented and diverse team. Praveen joins us with an outstanding track record of leading consumer businesses, with a passion for both strategy and executional excellence that will serve us well as we plan for the next phase of Diageo India’s exciting growth story.”.

    Praveen, bringing decades of leadership experience from HT Media and PepsiCo, expressed enthusiasm for steering Diageo India into its next growth phase. 

    USL chairman Mahendra Kumar Sharma lauded Hina’s legacy while welcoming Praveen’s strategic acumen.

  • Derek Chang Named president & CEO of Liberty Media

    Derek Chang Named president & CEO of Liberty Media

    MUMBAI: The John Malone-headed Liberty Media Corp has announced the appointment of veteran media, sports, and entertainment executive Derek Chang as its president&  CEO, effective 1  February  2025.

    Chang, a Liberty Media board member since 2021, brings extensive experience from leadership roles at the NBA, DirecTV, Scripps, and EverPass Media, among others. Liberty Media  chairman John Malone, will serve as interim CEO until Chang assumes the role.

    “I am thrilled to welcome Derek as CEO,” said Malone. “His deep industry expertise and leadership make him the ideal choice to guide Liberty’s next chapter.”

    Chang expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity, stating his focus will be on optimising Liberty Media’s portfolio and advancing key assets like Formula 1 and MotoGP.

    Chang will join the Liberty Media board’s executive committee alongside Malone, Dob Bennett, and Chase Carey.

    Liberty Media operates interests in media, sports, and entertainment businesses, including Formula 1 and Live Nation.

  • Saleha Williams takes over as IABM CEO

    Saleha Williams takes over as IABM CEO

    MUMBAI: The international trade association for broadcast and media (IABM)  today announced the appointment of Saleha Williams as CEO. Williams took up the role with effect from 2 December 2024. She succeeds Jerry Gepner who was CEO from October 2023 to May 2024. He had replaced Peter White who occupied the corner office for around 13 years before stepping down in January 2023.

    As the CEO of the association, Williams will lead IABM’s mission to advance the interests of the global broadcast and media technology industry. She will work closely with its board and team to develop and implement strategies to drive innovation, foster collaboration, and promote the industry’s growth.

    Williams brings a wealth of global experience and a proven track record in the media technology industry. Over her 30 plus  year career, she has spearheaded profitable growth and elevated market positioning for entities, including BBC, Google, WPP, Cognizant, Cisco, Siemens, BT, UK Gov, the Olympics, and media and entertainment clients from Hollywood, Indian cinema and everywhere in between. 

    As a passionate technology ESG advocate, she also serves as a non-executive director at WCMC – the United Nations Environmental Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC).

    A multi-award-winning tech thought leader, speaker, and DEIB evangelist (Financial Times Top 100 Tech Leaders, London 2012 Olympics Inspire a Generation, Insead Tech Inspirational Female, NAB Show, IBC Show, Mobile World Congress, Royal Television Society, Broadcast Asia and more), Saleha is deeply committed to driving strategies that foster an inclusive culture of innovation across the global media and entertainment industry. She believes in creating environments where teams and talent can flourish, clients and partners can succeed, and where media and technology stories have the power to positively impact people and the planet.

    IABM chair Josh Arensberg said: “Saleha brings a deep history of leadership in the media industry and understands the potential of our industry to deliver groundbreaking products and services. She is the right mix of thought leader, entrepreneur, and relationship builder to help bring the entire industry together. The board of IABM is eager to work closely with her to build our future vision together. We could not be more excited to welcome her onboard.”

    Said Williams: “IABM has a long history of supporting the global broadcast and media technology industry, and I am excited to work with the board and the team to build on this legacy. Our industry is at a pivotal moment, and I am committed to working with our members to shape the future of media technology and drive innovation across our entire ecosystem.”  

    “Saleha will bring a completely fresh approach to IABM, and I am very much looking forward to working with her as we strive to make it  even better at delivering on its primary purpose – helping all our members to do better business,” said IABM chief finance & operations officer Lucinda Meek.

  • Zeel’s Punit Goenka resigns as MD, to continue as CEO

    Zeel’s Punit Goenka resigns as MD, to continue as CEO

    MUMBAI: He wants to get down to the brass tacks of business., roll up his sleeves and go about achieving the targets the Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) board/nomination remunerations committee  has set him and rev up the company’s revenue and profits. Zeel CEO & MD Punit Goenka has resigned from the  post of managing director while retaining his position as CEO. Earlier Punit had sought permission from the Zeel board to resign as MD and continue as CEO which it accepted, effective 18 November.

    The company has also agreed to additionally designate Zeel chief financial officer Mukund Galgali as the deputy CEO. Galgali has been with the Zee group for the past 17 years, but has 27 years of work experience, and will support Punit in driving the company’s strategic initiatives.  As a member of the leadership team, he has been providing strategic consulting advice on business planning and performance, regulatory and ta  implications on business, process innovations and management controls etc. to improve business efficiency and value creation for shareholders.

    The Zeel board has recommended that a deputy chief financial officer be appointed to further strengthen the management team. Further, it is continuing the review of the company’s HR policies, processes and salary structures which were changed during the merger.

    It may be recalled that the Zeel board raised the targets  set for Punit while reappointing him as the MD & CEO. Late last week, the board had also put him under close watch, saying they would be evaluating his performance in terms of quarterly consolidated revenues and EBITDA  over the next four quarters  commencing Q3FY25) and pay out of 25 per cent of consolidated net profits as dividend to  Zeel’s shareholders.

    In a statement issued on Monday, Punit  said that Zeel remains on a firm footing and is taking all the necessary steps to build a robust foundation for its future. “In order to ensure we maintain a sharp focus on achieving our targeted aspirations, the core businesses require dedicated time and energy which can only be achieved in an operational capacity. In the long-term interest of the Company and all its stakeholders, I have approached the board with a request to attain operational focus as the CEO. I am grateful to the board for recognizing my efforts and supporting me in this approach,” he added.

    As part of the changes,  the variable portion (40 per cent) of Punit’s  salary will be paid only on achievement of certain milestones, subject to a maximum cap as defined by the Zeel board.

    Zeel chairman R. Gopalan stated,“The board appreciates the approach taken by Punit Goenka to sharpen his focus towards enhancing the operational aspects of the company as the chief executive officer. His expertise and business acumen remain unmatched, and we remain confident in his abilities to deliver immense value to the company and all its stakeholders in the position he assumes. On behalf of the board, I wish him immense luck and success going forward.”

  • Colors Kannada brings back RAJA RANI with all new RELOADED avatar

    Colors Kannada brings back RAJA RANI with all new RELOADED avatar

    Mumbai: In line with the promise to entertain audiences round the clock, Colors Kannada is bringing back the highly anticipated celebrity dance show, Raja Rani, for its third season, titled “Raja Rani Reloaded Season 3.” Presented by White Gold and powered by Amrith Noni, alongside esteemed partners Swastiks Masala, Bhima Jewellers, Sadguru Ayurveda Gram Flour Soap, Sangeetha Mobiles, this season promises an unparalleled blend of talent and entertainment.

    Premiered on June 8th at 7:30 PM, Raja Rani Reloaded Season 3 will grace the screens of Colors Kannada every Saturday and Sunday, promising viewers an immersive experience filled with electrifying performances and star-studded moments. Adding another surprise, the show features a three-judge panel, a first for the show. Joining incumbents Thara Anuradha and Srujan Lokesh will be Kannada film industry superstar Aditi Prabhudeva.

    Raja Rani Reloaded Season 3 features 12 dynamic celebrity couples from diverse backgrounds, including social media influencers, television stars, and more. These couples will showcase their on-screen chemistry and compatibility through exhilarating dance performances and engaging games. The show saw the return of the charismatic Anupama Gowda, who is adding excitement with her captivating presence.

    Speaking about the launch of Raja Rani Reloaded Season 3, Viacom18 cluster head, regional entertainment Sushma Rajesh said, “Colors Kannada, as a brand has always been at the forefront of pushing the boundaries of content and trying new formats. Our core promise to consumers is to deliver content that is entertaining and nuanced with the local flavor. The new season of Raja Rani is set to enthrall and entertain with compelling content driven by some amazing talents and meticulous execution.”

    Colors Kannada business head Prashanth Nayak expressed his excitement, “We are thrilled to launch the third season of the Raja Rani franchise, featuring all-new elements like a new judge and a dance-focused format. The show will also retain the entertainment elements from the previous seasons. We’re confident that audiences will embrace the fresh incarnation of Raja-Rani.”

    White Gold founder & CEO Rahul Joseph said, “We are delighted to associate with Colors Kannada for the third season of Raja Rani. It’s an honor to be a part of such an iconic show that brings joy and entertainment to millions of viewers. The dance show is set to have electrifying performances and we plan to bring that gold quality content through our association. “

    Narayan N (CEO) Amrith Noni Powered By: ‘’Amrith Noni is thrilled to power the third season of Raja Rani and are excited to be part of the thrilling performances and aim to support the health and recovery of the participants. We believe in the power of entertainment to bring people together and are excited to be involved in this journey.’’

    Dwarkanath (Managing Director) Swastiks Masala Special Partner: “As a brand deeply entrenched in tradition and culinary excellence, Swastiks takes immense delight in its partnership with Raja Rani Reloaded Season 3. Our collaboration transcends mere sponsorship; it is a celebration of heritage and festivity. We eagerly anticipate the unfolding of this enchanting journey, as each episode promises to bring our rich flavors and compelling narratives to life.”

    Mahesh (Marketing Head) Bhima Jewellers Special Partner: “Bhima Jewellers is honored to be a special partner of Raja Rani Reloaded Season 3. Being a sponsor on this show allows us to celebrate the artistry and elegance that resonate with our brand. We eagerly look forward to the brilliant performances of the celebrity couples and the glamour they will bring to the show.”

    Pradeep Shetty (Managing Director) Sadguru Ayurveda Gram Flour Soap Special Partner: “At Sadguru Ayurveda, we are thrilled to join Raja Rani Reloaded Season 3 as a special partner. This collaboration allows us to extend our commitment to promoting health and wellness to a wider audience. We are excited to support this entertaining and vibrant show and look forward to the joy and inspiration it will bring to viewers.”

    Subhash Chandra (Managing Director) Sangeetha Mobiles Special Partner: “Joining forces with Raja Rani Reloaded Season 3 fills Sangeetha Mobiles with delight. As we embark on this journey together, we eagerly anticipate the electrifying performances of the celebrity couples. Moreover, this partnership offers a thrilling avenue to connect with our customers in a dynamic and engaging manner.”

  • Ashwani Gupta is the new CEO of Adani Ports and SEZ

    Ashwani Gupta is the new CEO of Adani Ports and SEZ

    Mumbai: In recent developments, Ashwani Gupta joins Adani Group and SEZ as chief executive officer. Ashwani Gupta is a globally recognised professional having more than 30 years of experience in automotive, manufacturing, and retail domains.

    According to his LinkedIn post on 5 January 2024, Ashwani Gupta joins Adani Ports and SEZ (Special Economic Zone). Earlier he served at Nissan Motor Corporation as Director, Representative, and chief operating officer where he handled communication, strategy planning, project management, and other corporate functions.

    While expressing his joy for a new position in the LinkedIn post said, ‘ I am delighted to announce that I have joined Adani Group whose vision is to be a world-class leader in businesses that enrich lives and contribute to nations building infrastructure through sustainable value creation, as CEO of Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone (APSEZ).

    APSEZ is the flagship business of the group whose target is to emerge as the world’s largest port company by 2030 with Strategic assets across the globe offering integrated logistics services with the value chain ecosystem.’

  • Pawan Soni joins Fuel Content India as chief business officer

    Pawan Soni joins Fuel Content India as chief business officer

    Mumbai: FCB Group India’s content production arm, Fuel Content, has announced the appointment of Pawan Soni as chief business officer. He will lead FCB Group’s content production business and develop capabilities in India to offer full-funnel content solutions to their clients.

    With this new appointment, FCB Group India has taken a step to expand its client offerings in this dynamic and ever-evolving media landscape. Soni aims to leverage his wealth of knowledge and years of expertise to drive Fuel Content’s next phase of growth and solidify FCB’s role as a partner for the client’s business growth.

    Soni, who brings with him 18 years of management experience to the role, will be reporting to FCB India & Fuel Content CEO Debarpita Banerjee. He is a seasoned professional with a depth of experience across content and marketing as well, most recently at his own content agency, ThumbThamba Media, where he works with brand owners and agencies to create digital content while helping brands build their content strategies to solve business problems.

    He was previously head of content and marketing verticals for Disney’s Fox portfolio in India, where he managed brands like National Geographic and Fox Life. Before joining National Geographic, he was with JWT (now Wunderman Thompson) and worked on GSK’s consumer healthcare portfolio with brands like Horlicks & Iodex. The move underlines FCB Group India’s effort to offer their clients best-in-class content solutions across myriad production formats and platforms.

    Speaking on the appointment, Banerjee said, “I have known Soni for more than a decade and have worked with him closely in different roles across different organisations. I have always been a fan of his ability to unknot any situation and find a shining solution. As a force, he always moves forward, and as Fuel expands its offerings and expertise to our clients and moves into its next phase of operations, I am confident that Soni will be able to steer this unit to new and exciting heights.”

    On the appointment, Soni said, “This is an amazing opportunity, and I am excited to work alongside super talented folks at FCB Group India to produce even more creative stories and engaging content of the highest quality. I believe that great production is where creativity and curiosity go hand in hand with problem-solving, which allows us to create customised solutions every time for our clients’ storytelling needs. I’m looking forward to leading and growing Fuel Content into a modern production company that fuses agility, creativity, and technology to produce highly engaging yet effective work. Our ambition is to build a full-service production company that provides world-class production support, standout creative guidance, and a range of innovative solutions for our clients to produce insightful content that meaningfully connects with audiences in authentic and culturally relevant ways.”

    For the record, Fuel Content integrates key FCB tools like Brand Bedrock and aligns core brand strategy with content strategy to create “never-finished” content across platforms in India. It believes in a collaborative content creation approach; hence, it works closely with a network of individual content creators and different digital platforms to optimise content visibility and management for its clients.

  • SG Analytics appoints Rob Mitchell as its new advisory board member

    SG Analytics appoints Rob Mitchell as its new advisory board member

    Mumbai: SG Analytics, a leading global Insights and analytics company, has announced the addition of Rob Mitchell to its advisory board. Mitchell, an industry veteran and accomplished professional with over 25 years of experience is the co-founder & CEO of FT Longitude, a London specialist thought leadership agency that advises global B2B brands.

    “I am excited to welcome Rob as his rich experience will bolster our efforts to provide more value to our customers and strengthen our relationships,” said SG Analytics CEO Sid Banerjee.

    “Our board of advisors are committed to enabling our growth plans and championing our vision globally, and with Rob on the team, I visualize us further strengthened to achieve our business goals including our resolve to go public in 2025,” he added.

    As the co-founder and CEO of FT Longitude, Mitchell secured investment for Longitude from the Financial Times Group in 2018, and in 2022 Longitude became a fully owned subsidiary of the FT Group. Rob has led many consulting engagements and projects with global multinational companies, and he also enjoys writing and speaking on content strategy, thought leadership, and maximizing the return on marketing investments.

    An alum of Oxford University, prior to co-founding Longitude, Mitchell worked as a senior editor at the Economist Intelligence Unit, and before that, he edited sponsored reports for the Financial Times, including the Mastering Management series.

    “Data and analytics are now a critical asset for companies worldwide and SG Analytics is in a strong position to help organisations use those assets to make better decisions and drive long-term sustainable growth at a time of ongoing economic and geopolitical change,” said Mitchell.

    He further said, “I am looking forward to joining SG Analytics at a pivotal moment in its growth and in bringing my expertise in brand marketing, content and international business expansion to help accelerate the company’s impressive growth around the world.”

  • CM Bhupesh Baghel felicitates extraordinary individuals of Chhattisgarh at Bharat24’s Shikhar Samman

    CM Bhupesh Baghel felicitates extraordinary individuals of Chhattisgarh at Bharat24’s Shikhar Samman

    Mumbai: In continuation to its special initiative that recognizes and encourages individuals who are making extraordinary contributions towards the vision of new India, Bharat24 organised Chhattisgarh Shikhar Samman in Raipur to felicitate such extraordinary individuals from the state. Bharat24 CEO & editor-in-chief Dr Jagdeesh Chandra believes that ‘states make the nation’ and Shikhar Samman continues to recognize extraordinary individuals from various walks of life from various states for their exemplary work.

    Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel was the chief guest at the event and honoured the winners from different sectors for their exemplary work with the coveted trophy of Shikhar Samman. In a one-on-one interaction with executive editor and senior anchor Mimansa Malik, Baghel talked about the current challenges and the work he is doing towards the holistic development of the state.

    The event was hosted by top leadership of Bharat24 including chief business officer and strategic advisor to the board Manoj Jagyasi, senior editor Syed Umar, executive editor and senior anchor Mimansa Malik, senior anchor Shikha Thakur and Chhattisgarh editor Devesh Tiwari.

    The event was also attended by the former chief minister of Chhattisgarh Dr Raman Singh, Padmashri recipients including folk singer and actor Anuj Sharma, Kabir Singer Bharti Bandhu, Anup Ranjan Pandey of Bastar Band, business luminaries and elite members of society. The platform put the spotlight on individuals and their contributions but also curated multiple knowledge sessions featuring star panelists deliberate on key issues that have direct impact on the people of the state.

  • OTTplay becomes No. 1 with over 9.5 mn users

    OTTplay becomes No. 1 with over 9.5 mn users

    Mumbai: OTTplay, India’s first AI-powered OTT recommendation and content discovery platform, has risen to the top of the rankings for movie and web-series recommendations.

    OTTplay has established itself as the category leader, with over 9.5 million users. The platform recommends content from its extensive library, which includes over 60 OTTs, 65,000 web series, movies, and shows spanning 18 genres and multiple languages. The platform, which includes cutting-edge AI software, provides audiences with smart recommendations, allowing users to discover the content they are most likely to enjoy.

    Commenting on the successful run of the platform, OTTplay CEO and co-founder Avinash Mudaliar said, “OTTplay is based on consumer ethos & consumer want. The journey to 9.5 million users in one year and still growing makes us happy, but we feel it’s just the beginning for OTTplay. We aim to solve the core problem of OTT users, which is what to watch, where to watch, and how to watch. With OTTplay Premium, we hope to provide a variety of OTT services within the app while keeping them affordable for consumers. So you can get recommendations, reviews, and a subscription to watch your favourite content all in OTTplay. We look forward to adding more value to the consumer journey and keeping the hustle real.”

    With OTTplay, audiences can now access their favourite content from 12 different OTT platforms with a single subscription. OTTplay previously served as a content discovery engine that curated content from more than 60 Indian and international OTTs. The premium subscription platform, OTTplay Premium, which offers 20,000+ shows, webseries, and movies from 12 different OTTs at a reasonable price, is in fact living up to their slogan, “Mazey Karo Multiply.”