MAM
MEC India appoints Premnath Unnikrishnan as digital head
MUMBAI: MEC India has appointed Premnath Unnikrishnan as south head – digital.
Based out of Bangalore, Unnikrishnan will report to the agency’s India digital leader Vishal Chinchankar.
Chinchankar said, “It is great to have Prem as part of the MEC’s digital team. He is a seasoned professional and come with a plethora of skills and expertise. He has a proven ability to create strategic simplicity, drive innovation, ensure systematic execution, and deliver results. We wish him the very best in his new role.”
Unnikrishnan, a thorough digital professional with over 10 years of experience, comes with in-depth knowledge of performance based campaigns. Prior to joining MEC, he was with Interactive Avenues where he managed accounts like Wipro, TTK, ING Vysya Bank, World Vision amongst others.
Unnikrishnan said, “It’s an absolute honour to be part of this leading organisation. This opportunity has provided me a great platform to further showcase and enhance client service levels. From developing digital strategies to implementing digital technologies and running digital processes, these responsibilities will serve as a great learning opportunity. I am eager and look forward to learning from the pool of talented people present here at MEC.”
Brands
RPSG’s Sudhir Langer exits days before IPL 2026
Timing sharpens focus on stake sale buzz and LSG’s tightening financial playbook
MUMBAI: RPSG ( RP-Sanjiv Goenka) Ventures has sprung a late leadership surprise just as the IPL drumroll begins. Sudhir Langer will step down as whole-time director and from the board effective March 31, days after the 2026 Indian Premier League season kicks off on March 28.
The timing is hard to ignore. RPSG Ventures owns Lucknow Super Giants, and Langer’s exit lands in a narrow pre-tournament window when operational focus is typically at its peak.
The move also coincides with chatter around a potential stake sale. According to a Moneycontrol report, the RPSG Group, led by Sanjiv Goenka, is exploring options to offload up to a 15 per cent stake in the franchise. There has been no official confirmation.
RPSG had acquired the Lucknow franchise in November 2021 for Rs 7,090 crore, among the highest bids in IPL history. The team operates under RPSG Sports Private Limited and carries a sizeable annual franchise fee obligation of Rs 709 crore through FY31.
Financials underline both scale and strain. The franchise remains heavily reliant on central revenue distribution from the Board of Control for Cricket in India. In H1 FY26, it received Rs 399 crore as its share of franchise rights, compared with Rs 458 crore in FY25, the single largest contributor to income.
Total revenue for H1 FY26 stood at Rs 495.9 crore, with profit at Rs 63.7 crore. Yet FY25 saw a softer showing: revenue fell about 20 per cent to Rs 557 crore, weighed down by fewer matches and a lower league finish in the 2024 season. Growth has since been modest, with H1 FY26 revenue rising roughly 3 per cent year on year.
That leaves LSG balancing on a familiar IPL tightrope: strong central inflows, volatile on-field-linked earnings and a hefty fixed fee burden.
With a leadership exit, stake-sale speculation and a new season about to begin, Goenka’s cricket bet is entering a decisive phase—where timing, performance and capital strategy will all have to click.
