NEW DELHI: NDTV has named Avanish Kumar as head of digital business (government), tasking him with leading its engagement with ministries, departments, PSUs and state bodies at a time when government advertising and campaigns are becoming increasingly digital.
Kumar joins from the India Today group, where he spent more than two years as chief manager of government business. There he managed the Business Today “Multiverse” – spanning the magazine, businesstoday.in and BTTV – with a sharp focus on monetising digital assets, building state and central government associations, and positioning the brand as media partner for investor summits and public events. He also worked directly with political parties to craft campaign solutions across platforms.
Before India Today, Kumar was head of media marketing at Bharat Prakashan, publisher of Organiser and Panchjanya, where he managed pan-India teams and drove digital and content-marketing strategies for clients. He earlier served as business head at Flame Advertising, handling PSU and BFSI accounts, and was instrumental in developing government activations across radio, print, digital and cinema.
Kumar cut his teeth in the private-sector media houses. At Hindustan Times, he generated advertising revenue across print, digital and radio while monetising flagship events such as the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, Mint Energy Conclave and HT Palate Festival. At The Hindu, he focused on government features, supplements and sponsorship deals, working with ministries on campaigns such as “Incredible India”. His early years were spent at Nava Bharat, liaising with ministries and advertising agencies for media plans.
Across these roles, Kumar has built a reputation as a government-business specialist with deep relationships across ministries, state information departments, investment boards and advertising agencies. His skill set blends digital marketing, media sales and event monetisation – areas critical for broadcasters and publishers as government spending increasingly shifts from print to online.
At NDTV, Kumar’s brief is clear: maximise public-sector partnerships, align with government communication priorities, and grow digital revenues. His appointment comes as NDTV, part of the Adani group, looks to strengthen its foothold in digital news while navigating a fiercely competitive and politically sensitive landscape.
