News Broadcasting
Arvind Lifestyle Brands partners with Shoppers Stop for launch of Next
MUMBAI: Arvind Lifestyle Brands partners with Shoppers Stop for the launch of a shop-in-shop format of British brand next, in Mumbai. Spread over 600 sq. ft., at the Shoppers Stop store in Juhu, the NEXT shop in shop will retail kids clothing for ages from 2 years to 12 years for girls and boys. The kidswear range also includes hosiery, shoes and socks, underwear, and nightwear. The shop in shop format at Shoppers Stop is the first of its kind for next in India.
Mr. Govind Shrikhande, Customer Care Associate & Managing Director, Shoppers Stop Ltd. added, “We believe in offering our customers a world-class shopping experience and an unparalleled product assortment. Our partnership with Arvind Lifestyle Brands to bring British speciality retail brand NEXT is a great addition to our existing portfolio of kidwear brands. With next, our customers now have an added choice in aspirational kidswear brands to choose from. We are well poised for a successful journey with next.”
On the opening, J Suresh, MD & CEO, Arvind Lifestyle Brands Ltd. said, “We are extremely pleased with our collaboration with Shoppers Stop and for the first time in India we will bringing speciality retail inside a Department store. Next provides Shopper Stop consumers best of British kids fashion wear offering . On the other hand, Next can take advantage of the ready consumer base of Shoppers Stop. We expect this collaboration setting a new trend of win win collaboration between speciality retailers and Department stores.”
next offers quality clothing at reasonable prices for kids and women. Through a series of stories each season, next retails the best of British fashion. With a five city presence, in Forum Mall, Koramangala, Elante Mall, Chandigarh, Select Citywalk, Saket, Delhi, Ambience Mall, Gurgaon, and Koregaon Mall Plaza, Pune, the brand has gathered a loyal fan base who’re fashion savvy and looking for current styles.
Next kidswear is now available at Shoppers Stop, Juhu.
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.
