News Broadcasting
Fortune India launches the Fortune 500 Issue with ‘Power Talk’
MUMBAI: Fortune India launched its December issue comprising the esteemed Fortune 500 list with elan at a Power Talk with Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Andhra Pradesh.
The event witnessed a gathering of top decision makers, thought leaders and business analysts from the country to brainstorm and lay down the initial road map for rebuilding the state under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble CM of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu. The event began with the launch of the 2014 edition of the Fortune India 500 mega issue by the Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu along with Mr. D. D. Purkayastha, MD & CEO, ABP Pvt. Ltd. and Mr. D. N. Mukerjea, Editor, Fortune India.
The launch of this esteemed issue was followed by a brief welcome address by D.N. Mukerjea of Fortune India where he was quick to mention how Naidu’s challenge is to build a state with the pace and discipline of a start-up. ‘This is a rare opportunity for everybody to come together and contribute to building a new state’, said Mukerjea.
“The Andhra Pradesh (AP) government is developing the state as a trade and logistics hub, benchmarked against the business-friendliest countries in the world,” said chief minister Shri. N. Chandrababu Naidu in Visakhapatnam today, referring to the state’s 974 km coastline while addressing the elite gathering. Naidu outlined his strategy to make AP the largest trade gateway for India to countries in the east, citing the Visakhapatnam-Kakinada Industrial Area Development Authority which will boost trade with countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, China and Japan. “It is planned as a mega city with state-of-the-art infrastructure and civic amenities,” the Chief Minister said, adding that an international airport is on the anvil, with three sea ports having excellent deep waters ready.
The event was concluded with a panel discussion moderated by the Editor, Fortune India where panelists included the Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, Sri S.P. Tucker, Spl. Chief Secretary, Planning Department (Andhra Pradesh); Mr. Krishna Kumar Ananthasubramanian, Managing Director, Philips India; Mr. Lakshmi Narayanan, Vice Chairman, Cognizant Technology Solutions; and Mr. Sudhir Sethi, Managing Partner, IDG Ventures. The state is seeking ideas towards setting up a new state; the panelists stressed the need to bring world-class research institutions and to promote migration of skilled populations into the new cities of the state to ensure they are at par with Silicon Valley.
The Fortune 500 ranking of the largest corporations is the best known symbol of corporate excellence in the world. A signature issue – a veritable tome of information on India’s best and for purposes of benchmarking there’s the China 500, the BRIC 75 (Brazil, Russia, India, and China), the CIVET S 100 (Colombia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey, and South Africa), and the world according to the Fortune global 500. Accompanying all the tables and rankings are some compelling stories on what makes India’s largest corporations unique. In its 5th edition, State-run Indian Oil Corporation is named the country’s largest company in terms of revenue, followed by Reliance Industries and Bharat Petroleum in the second and third place respectively.
News Broadcasting
GenNext takes charge as Network18 reshuffles leadership
With Avinash Kaul bowing out, Network18 hands reins to younger leaders, streamlines operations, and pushes data-driven growth across TV, digital and regional markets
MUMBAI: Network18 is redrawing its leadership map just as a long-time lieutenant bows out. Avinash Kaul, a central figure in the broadcaster’s rise since 2014, is leaving after 12 years to pursue “professional and personal goals”, triggering a broad-based reshuffle that puts a younger cohort directly under the top brass.
Kaul joined at a pivotal moment during the company’s transition and went on to scale the television business, combining strategic nous with data-led decision-making and a sharp read of the news landscape. “Avinash has been an integral part of the Network18 story,” the company said, thanking him for his leadership of the broadcast business and wishing him the best for the future.
In his wake, Network18 is betting on what it calls a “young and restless” leadership bench. “The team has taken charge and proved its mettle in quite adverse circumstances,” the note said, adding that “GenNext has seamlessly stepped in as we continue to outperform our peers.”
Operationally, the structure is being flattened. Smriti Mehra, S Shivakumar and Mitul Sangani will work directly with the top leadership, as they did in the fourth quarter. Ganesh Iyer and Abhinay Chauhan continue in their existing roles, while younger executives are being handed wider mandates across social, digital, connected TV and linear.
The reporting lines are being tightened to drive revenue and product momentum. Prabhat Chatterjee, business head–Forbes, and Arun Thapar, president–content and communication for AETN-18, will report to Smriti Mehra, alongside Mallika Nath Handa, who will lead special projects spanning new shows and non-linear properties. Jayesh Gokalgandhi, CFO for AETN-18, will report to Ramesh Damani.
Mitul Sangani will oversee expansion in Hindi and regional markets, with Sidharth Newatia, CRO–ILC, focusing on reach and revenue growth, particularly in tier-II and III markets. Pankaj Soni, head of marketing–ILC, will also report to Sangani while working functionally with Ganesh Iyer.
The group is also consolidating its branded content play. Moneycontrol’s branded content business will be folded into News18 Studio, with Don Zarrar moving to work with Shivakumar while continuing to lead existing studio and Focus teams.
International and platform growth are being bundled together. Pranav Bakshi takes on additional charge of the international business alongside connected TV and social platforms, with Naveen Mathur, who leads revenue management for the international unit, reporting to him. Bakshi continues to report to Puneet Singhvi.
On the technology and operations side, Rajesh Sharma, head of broadcast technology and IT; Rahul Singh, head of events and technical operations; and Bhupender Bhardwaj, head of IT security, will now report to Singhvi. Darshil Parekh, head of sales strategy, planning and operations, will work directly with Ramesh Damani and the top leadership, with Stanley Cyril, who manages digital sales operations, reporting to him.
Data is being pushed to the centre of decision-making. Jitamitra Mohanty, who leads research and analytics, will now work with Santosh Menon to turn audience data into “actionable insights that drive content strategy, product innovation and sustainable viewership growth”.
The message is clear: fewer layers, faster calls, sharper bets. With Kaul’s exit closing one chapter, Network18 is handing the wheel to a younger crew and doubling down on scale across screens. The race, it signals, will be run at full tilt.
