MUMBAI: Daily News & Analysis (DNA), a newspaper to be launched from the Zee-Bhaskar combine, has roped in N B Verma as its ad sales head. Verma has been heading Times of India Mumbai’s response department, region three, in his 23-year long stint with the Bennett, Coleman & Co.
Verma will be reporting to sales & marketing head Suresh Balakrishnan. Sources close to indiantelevison.com indicate that Verma will be putting his papers on 22 April. Then, he will serve a one-month notice period before joining Diligent Media, the Zee-Bhaskar joint venture which will launch the newspaper.
When contacted, Balakrishnan said a final decision hadn’t been taken yet on the appointment. “We have given an offer, but haven’t got any confirmation from Verma yet,” he says.
DNA is targeting a September launch and has already roped in veteran journalists Ayaz Memon, R Jagannathan and Vijay Kadu. Diligent Media has set up its office in Mumbai suburb Lower Parel’s Kamala Mills Compound.
Currently, Bhaskar group is conducting a pre-launch survey, covering a staggering 11-lakh households in Mumbai and Thane. The survey will go on for two months. Simultaneously, the marketing campaign is also being unfolded phase by phase.