N Murali appointed Chairman of The Hindu Group Publishing board

MUMBAI: The ink may be decades old, but the story is entering a new chapter. A media industry veteran with more than 56 years of experience, N. Murali has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Hindu Group Publishing Private Limited (THGPPL) for a three-year term, succeeding Dr Nirmala Lakshman, who stepped down as Chairperson as she approached the completion of her tenure.

The appointment was unanimously approved by the Board following a recommendation from the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, chaired by Senior Advocate Krishna Srinivasan.

For Murali, the elevation marks another milestone in a career that has been closely intertwined with one of India’s most respected newspaper institutions. Having joined The Hindu’s family-run enterprise in 1969 after qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, he has spent more than five decades helping steer the organisation through changing media landscapes, business cycles and technological transformations.

Murali’s rise through the ranks was steady and significant. He became General Manager in 1977 before being appointed Joint Managing Director in 1995. In 2006, he assumed charge as Managing Director of Kasturi & Sons Limited, the publisher of The Hindu and its allied publications, later going on to serve as Chairman of the company. In recent years, he has continued to contribute as a Director of both THGPPL and Kasturi & Sons Limited.

Beyond The Hindu Group, Murali has played an influential role in shaping India’s media and advertising ecosystem. He has served as President of the Indian Newspaper Society, Chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulations’ Council of Management, Chairman of the National Readership Studies Council and Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI).

His contributions have also extended to journalism and media development. Murali chaired the Board of Trustees of the Press Institute of India-RIND and remains a Trustee of the Media Development Foundation in Chennai, which administers the Asian College of Journalism.

His influence has not been confined to India. Murali became the first representative from South Asia to be elected to the Board of IFRA, the Germany-based media publishing association. He later served on the Board of the Paris-based World Association of Newspapers, strengthening India’s representation on the global media stage.

The leadership transition comes at a pivotal time for the publishing industry as news organisations continue to navigate digital disruption, evolving reader habits and new revenue models. With extensive experience spanning management, finance, publishing operations and industry governance, Murali brings a deep institutional understanding of both the business of news and the future challenges facing the sector.

As The Hindu Group turns the page on its next chapter, the appointment places one of Indian media’s most experienced hands back at the head of the table, reinforcing continuity at a time of rapid change across the news industry.