MAM
Kamal Basu appointed marketing head at Volkswagen
MUMBAI: Volkswagen Group Sales India has appointed Kamal Basu as marketing and PR head for Volkswagen Passenger Cars.
Basu, who joined Skoda Auto India as marketing head in 2012, oversaw product marketing, lead management, communication and media, and also worked closely with sales, after-sales and dealer network teams. In addition to his work in automobile marketing, Basu has a very strong background in advertising, having spent close to two decades working with top-level agencies like RK Swamy BBDO, Rediffusion Y&R and with Saatchi & Saatchi as CEO.
“I’m happy to have contributed to Skoda’s performance in India over the last three years, and am happy to take up the new challenge of bringing fresh thought and new ideas to Volkswagen India’s marketing effort. Volkswagen is an iconic automotive brand with great history and a strong legacy, and I hope to make a contribution towards the growth of this brand in the Indian car market,” said Basu.
Commenting on the appointment, Volkswagen Passenger Cars director Michael Mayer said, “We are pleased to welcome Kamal on board here at Volkswagen India. Kamal is a seasoned marketing professional and I’m sure he will be a strong and valuable addition to our team. Kamal will play a key role in further developing the strengths of the Volkswagen brand in India.”
Basu’s appointment is effective from 1 January 2015.
Brands
ZEEL transfers syndication business, invests Rs 505 crore in IP push
Restructuring, stake buy and FCCB moves signal sharper content strategy
MUMBAI: In the content economy, owning the story is half the battle monetising it is the real game, and Zee Entertainment Enterprises is doubling down on both. The company has approved the transfer of its syndication and content licensing business to its wholly owned subsidiary ZI-IPR Enterprises, alongside an investment of Rs 505 crore aimed at strengthening its play in content intellectual property (IP) acquisition, management and monetisation. The move, effective April 1, 2026, will see the business transferred on a slump sale basis at book value, including all associated assets, liabilities and commercial rights effectively consolidating IP operations under a more focused structure.
At its core, the restructuring signals a strategic shift. As content consumption increasingly fragments across digital and global platforms, the value of IP lies not just in creation but in how efficiently it can be distributed, repackaged and monetised across markets. By housing its syndication engine within ZI-IPR Enterprises, ZEEL appears to be building a more agile and scalable ecosystem, one that can better extract value from its vast content library while adapting to evolving distribution models.
But the company’s ambitions are not limited to restructuring. ZEEL has also approved an investment of up to Rs 20.09 crore in Culture of Real Experiences (CORE), acquiring a 51 per cent stake in the entity. The move expands its footprint into the broader creative and experiential space, suggesting a push beyond traditional broadcasting into areas where content, culture and immersive experiences intersect.
At the same time, ZEEL has moved to tidy up its financials, approving the redemption of $23.9 million in outstanding foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCBs) and cancelling an unused $215.1 million commitment. The twin steps are expected to ease pressure on its treasury, freeing up capital and improving financial flexibility as the company invests more aggressively in its IP strategy.
Taken together, the decisions reflect a company in recalibration mode streamlining legacy structures, sharpening its focus on content ownership, and exploring new avenues for growth. In a market where the lines between television, streaming and experiential entertainment are increasingly blurred, ZEEL’s latest moves suggest it is not just creating content, but building a system to make that content travel further and pay better.
