GECs
Zee TV finally hires broadcasting CEO
Zee Telefilms Ltd (ZTL) has hired another CEO, adding to the clutch of chiefs who run the company. This time it is advertising agency Rediffusion DY&R president Sandeep Goyal who is going to be at the helm of its broadcasting operations.
“We are happy that we have found in Sandeep the right mix of creativity and commercial acumen,” says Zee TV chairman Subhash Chandra. “Despite him being young – just 38 years- Sandeep will be able to build on the strengths of the Zee Network which he is inheriting. He will be able to build stronger bonds with stakeholders (media buyers, viewers and the society) by providing them the infotainment they are looking for. We welcome him on the team.”
Goyal has 15 years of advertising industry experience with agencies ranging from HTA, Trikaya Grey, Mudra, to Rediffusion Advertising. He will take up his posting from June 2001.
Will Goyal be able to work some magic into Zee especially at a time when it needs some of that badly? It’s a tricky question.
One will have to wait and watch how the other CEOs in the group react to the appointment and how much leeway Chandra gives Goyal. Chandra obviously is banking on his youth to bring in some refreshing changes. And since television is an untried and untested area for him, he well may.
With the announcement of Goyal’s appointment finally being made, rumour that HFCL Nine Broadcasting CEO Ravina Raj Kohli would join Zee TV can now be put to rest.
Sandeep Goyal Picture courtesy Business Standard
GECs
Vikram and Ajinkya Gandhe win Masterchef India season finale
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor joins judges for emotional MasterChef finale
MUMBAI: The latest season of MasterChef India concluded on a high note, with brothers Vikram Gandhe and Ajinkya Gandhe crowned winners in the grand finale aired on Sony Entertainment Television.
The duo from Nagpur lifted the coveted trophy and donned the show’s signature golden apron after a season that celebrated India’s diverse culinary traditions under the theme “Pride of India”.
This edition of the popular cooking reality show introduced a new jodi format, with 50 pairs from across the country competing in the Masterchef kitchen. Contestants brought personal stories, regional flavours and family bonds to the competition.
The grand finale featured the final three pairs: Vikram and Ajinkya Gandhe (brothers), Saisree and Chanda (mother and daughter), and Anju and Manju (sisters).
The finale was attended by celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor, who joined the show’s judging panel comprising Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar and Kunal Kapur.
Kapoor said the show has long served as a platform to celebrate India’s rich culinary heritage and provide passionate home cooks with a national stage. He noted that the current season reflected a confident India that takes pride in its roots while embracing new culinary ideas.
Judge Vikas Khanna said the contestants’ journeys and the memories created during the season would remain with the team long after the show’s conclusion. Ranveer Brar described the show as a family that continues to grow with every season, while Kunal Kapur praised the contestants’ creativity and determination.
With the finale now concluded, the latest season of MasterChef India once again highlighted how food can reflect identity, heritage and storytelling, inspiring home cooks across the country to pursue their culinary ambitions.
