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Tag: Praveen Someshwar

  • Praveen Someshwar moves to Diageo India as MD & CEO after transforming HT Media

    Praveen Someshwar moves to Diageo India as MD & CEO after transforming HT Media

    MUMBAI: Praveen Someshwar is no stranger to transformation. After steering HT Media Group through a period of digital reinvention and AI-powered journalism, he is now shifting gears—this time to the world of premium spirits. Diageo India has appointed him as its new managing director & CEO, a move that signals an exciting new chapter for both Someshwar and the country’s leading beverage company.

    After six and a half years at HT Media, where he spearheaded the digital-first evolution of iconic brands like Hindustan Times, Mint, and Fever Network, Someshwar is now set to bring his sharp business acumen to Diageo India. Under his leadership, HT Media embraced AI-driven journalism, expanded its digital footprint, and built a robust ecosystem blending print, OTT, podcasts, and video. His tenure saw the integration of 400+ engineers, product specialists, and designers working alongside 3,000+ journalists, transforming the organisation into a tech-savvy media powerhouse.

    Someshwar himself reflected on his HT journey with a heartfelt farewell on Linkedin, saying, “Transforming a traditional media powerhouse into a digital-first, tech-driven organisation was no small task. And yet, what I witnessed over the years was nothing short of extraordinary.”

    At Diageo India, Someshwar steps into the shoes of Hina Nagarajan, who moves into a global role. His appointment comes at a crucial time when the premiumisation of the beverage sector, digital innovation, and market expansion are at the forefront of Diageo’s strategy. Someshwar’s career has been a masterclass in reinvention. From leading PepsiCo’s India and Asia operations to redefining media with HT’s tech-driven expansion, he has consistently pushed boundaries. At Diageo India, he now faces a new challenge—bringing the same strategic foresight to a dynamic, fast-evolving beverage industry.

    His new role will focus on strengthening Diageo’s market dominance with a digital-first approach, enhancing consumer engagement through AI-driven insights, and driving premiumisation in India’s evolving spirits market.

    With India’s premium beverage market booming and digital innovation reshaping consumer experiences, his leadership could redefine the future of premium spirits in India.

  • 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.

  • HT Media announces leadership change: Sameer Singh to succeed Praveen Someshwar as group CEO

    HT Media announces leadership change: Sameer Singh to succeed Praveen Someshwar as group CEO

    MUMBAI: – HT Media’s board of directors, in a meeting held on 11 January, accepted the resignation of managing director &  CEO Praveen Someshwar, effective 28 February 2025. The board has approved the appointment of Sameer Singh as group chief executive officer, effective 1 March  2025, based on the recommendation of the nomination and remuneration committee.

    An alumnus of IIM Calcutta, Sameer Singh brings over 30 years of experience in digital innovation, brand marketing, and leadership across global markets. He currently heads north America global business solutions at TikTok/ByteDance, leading advertising and sales teams for the region. Previously, he held a similar leadership role for the Asia-Pacific region.

    Sameer has an impressive track record in media and marketing, having served as CEO of GroupM India and south Asia, where he championed digital transformation and content-driven strategies for clients. His career also includes key roles at Google, GSK, Procter & Gamble, and IPG, where he was instrumental in advancing digital strategies and optimising media investments.

    Having worked in cities such as New York, New Delhi, Palo Alto, Boston, London, Dubai, and Guangzhou, Sameer’s global perspective and expertise make him a strategic choice to lead HT Media into its next phase of growth.

    The leadership transition marks a significant step for HT Media as it continues to evolve in a rapidly changing media landscape.

  • Bharat Gupta assumes the presidency at INMA’s South Asian Division from Jagran New Media

    Bharat Gupta assumes the presidency at INMA’s South Asian Division from Jagran New Media

    Mumbai: Jagran New Media’s CEO, Bharat Gupta, has been elected as the regional president of the South Asian Division of the International News Media Association (INMA), succeeding the earlier president, Praveen Someshwar, MD & CEO at HT Media Ltd. Jagran New Media is the digital arm of Jagran Prakashan Ltd, which operates businesses in Print, Radio, Outdoor & Digital. This leadership transition was part of the recent election conducted by INMA during its annual business meeting, where new officers and regional directors were appointed for the International board. The team also extends its gratitude to Earl J. Wilkinson, Executive Director and CEO of the International News Media Association (INMA), for his exemplary leadership.

    Other regional presidents on the INMA International Board include Petteri Putkiranta, President, News & Featyre, Sanoma Media Finaland, Helsinki, Finland; Troy Niday, Chief Operations Officer Sonoma Media Investments – The Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, California; and Pablo Deluca, Director de Asuntos Institucionales Infobae Buenos Aires, CABA, Argentina (Latin American Division President).

    Ecstatic about the appointment, Jagran New Media CEO Bharat Gupta said, “I am deeply honoured to take on the role of South Asia Division President at the International News Media Association (INMA) and contribute to a global dialogue on the future of news media. My primary focus will be driving scale, impact, and sustainability for digital news media companies, and central to my vision is the creation of a collaborative platform where we can all ideate, collaborate, and innovate. This approach is especially crucial in the context of the ongoing disruption caused by AI and ML technology stacks. There will be a special emphasis on culture building within our organisations, particularly through fostering Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity, to ensure a transformative impact across the media landscape. By integrating these elements, I aim to contribute meaningfully to INMA’s mission and support the evolution of the Indian media sector within the global framework.”

    With a wealth of experience and expertise in the media sector, Mr. Bharat Gupta will be responsible for laying down the futuristic vision of the South Asia Division, overseeing all activities and championing INMA’s core values of sustainable journalism, success, innovation, and continuous learning. Before his elevation to president, he served as an integral part of INMA South Asian Division as its Vice President, which showcased his firm dedication to INMA’s

    mission, focusing on fostering growth, revenue, and brand development within the dynamic media universe.

    With a global Board of Directors overseeing the association’s activities, INMA continues to be at the forefront of providing professional training and development opportunities for its 20,000+ members across 94 countries. It leads the news industry with initiatives to understand better digital subscriptions, intelligent data, products, advertising, and the emerging relationship with Big Tech platforms.

    Along with serving as the president of the INMA South Asia Division (International News & Media Association), he is also a governing council member and co-chair at the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI); a founding member of the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA); Executive president of the Misinformation Combat Alliance; a board member of the International Fact Check Network (IFCN); an Advisory Board Member of FT Strategies, London; and a member of the Google Global News Advisory Group and YouTube Global News Advisory Group; and the founding member & president of the Misinformation Combat Alliance (MCA), a cross-industry collaborative effort to combat and limit the spread of misinformation.