Indiantelevision.com Team

(24 August 2006 1:30 pm)

MUMBAI: Global sports, entertainment and media major IMG has honed in on a replacement for Ravi Krishnan, who quit the company in April to join a multinational real estate group as its India head.

Balakrishnan “Balu” Nair has been appointed as IMG/TWI South Asia MD and senior VP. Nair officially takes charge at IMG as of 1 October, reliable industry sources have told indiantelevision.com.

When asked for an official comment on the developments, Krishnan, who is still associated with IMG as an advisor for sports, fashion and entertainment, would only say this, "There will be a formal announcement regarding my replacement in the near term once all formalities are completed."

Queried as to whether his term as advisor would be coming to an end just ahead of Nair's taking charge, Krishnan said, "My position as an advisor to IMG India is an ongoing one and does not end on September 30."

Nair’s near term focus at IMG will reportedly be on new media and he will be reporting in directly to the UK office.

The big challenge before the IIT, IIM alumni, whose expertise rests easily in the new media domain, will be on how to rev up IMG’s flagging fortunes. The fact is that IMG is no more the dominant force in the sports and events management arena in the country it was a decade ago.

IMG's headline properties in India currently are the Chennai Open tennis tournament and the Lakme India Fashion Week.