MAM
NDTV India gets its Suhail signal as prime-time champ joins the network
MUMBAI: The 9 pm battlefield has a new warrior, and he’s carrying numbers sharper than any sword. Syed Suhail, Hindi television’s undisputed prime-time champion for over 100 weeks, has joined NDTV India as senior executive editor and prime-time anchor. In a fiercely fought time band where star anchors jostle for dominance, Suhail carved his legacy with sheer consistency and clarity. His previous show not only ruled the 9 pm slot week after week but also became Hindi prime time’s most-watched broadcast, drawing nearly 19 million viewers on average. Even more telling audiences stuck with him longer than with any other face on screen at that hour, turning his dominance into a ritual for three straight years.
Suhail’s rise is no overnight story. From his early days at Jain TV and a regional channel where he learnt humility, to P7 News and News Nation where he sharpened his storytelling, each stop added grit and finesse. At News24, he mastered viewer connect, and by the time he reached Republic Bharat, he had rewritten the rules of the 9 pm battleground. His 100-day trek across 45 districts of Uttar Pradesh meeting everyone from ministers to security guards and children in orphanages cemented his India-first philosophy of journalism.
What separates him from the pack is not just ratings. Suhail personally reviews every show, swears by the power of visuals, and insists the story itself should be the star. For him, journalism is less about noise and more about keeping the ordinary citizen at the centre while putting the nation’s interests above all.
On his move to NDTV India, Suhail said, “From the start of my career, I have admired NDTV for its credibility and ‘viewer-first’ approach. To be part of this network is not just a professional honour, it is a responsibility to remain true to the common man and to tell their stories simply, honestly, and with commitment.”
Welcoming him, NDTV CEO & editor-in-chief Rahul Kanwal, said: “Suhail is one of Hindi television’s most trusted prime-time voices. He brings not just ratings leadership but also credibility and an instinctive connection with viewers. We are delighted to welcome him to NDTV India as we strengthen our promise of meaningful, people-first journalism for a new India.”
For viewers, the message is clear: at 9 pm, Suhail will now set the tone for NDTV India. For rivals, the battle just got that much harder.
Brands
YES Bank hands the keys to SBI veteran Vinay Tonse as it bets on a new era
Former SBI managing director appointed as YES Bank’s new MD and CEO
MUMBAI: YES Bank is done rebuilding. Now it wants to grow. The private sector lender has appointed Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as managing director and chief executive officer-designate, with RBI approval secured and a start date of April 6, 2026 confirmed. The three-year term signals the bank’s intent to shift gears from crisis recovery to full-throttle expansion.
Tonse, 60, is no stranger to scale. Most recently managing director at State Bank of India, he oversaw a retail book of roughly $800bn in deposits and advances, one of the largest in the country. Before that, he ran SBI Mutual Fund from August 2020 to December 2022, a stint that saw assets under management surge from Rs 4.32 lakh crore to Rs 7.32 lakh crore across market cycles. Add stints in Singapore and four years leading SBI’s overseas operations in Osaka, and the incoming chief arrives with a genuinely global CV.
His academic grounding is equally solid: a commerce degree from St Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru, and a master’s in commerce from Bangalore University.
The appointment follows an extensive search and evaluation process by the bank’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee. NRC chairperson Nandita Gurjar said the committee unanimously backed Tonse, citing his leadership track record, governance credentials and ability to drive the bank’s next phase of transformation.
Non-executive chairman Rama Subramaniam Gandhi was unequivocal. “I am certain that Vinay Tonse, with his vast experience as a senior banker, will propel YES Bank to its next phase of growth,” Gandhi said, adding that the bank remains focused on strengthening its retail and corporate banking franchises and expanding its branch network.
Rajeev Kannan, non-executive director and senior executive at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the bank’s largest shareholder, said Tonse’s experience across retail, corporate banking, global markets and asset management positioned him well to lead the lender. SMBC said it looks forward to working with Tonse and the board as YES Bank pursues its ambition of becoming a top-tier private sector lender anchored in strong governance and sustainable growth.
Tonse succeeds Prashant Kumar, who took the helm in March 2020 when YES Bank was in freefall following a severe financial crisis, and spent six years painstakingly stabilising the institution, rebuilding governance and restoring operational scale. Gandhi was generous: “The bank remains indebted to Prashant Kumar, who is responsible for much of what a strong financial powerhouse YES Bank is today.”
Tonse, for his part, struck a purposeful note. “Together with the board and my colleagues, I remain deeply committed to creating long-term value for all our stakeholders,” he said, pledging to build on Kumar’s foundation guided by his personal motto: Make A Difference.
Beyond the balance sheet, Tonse played cricket at college and club level and represented Karnataka in archery at the national championships — sports he credits with teaching him teamwork, situational leadership, discipline and focus. In quieter moments, he reaches for retro Kannada music, classic Hindi songs, and the crooning of Engelbert Humperdinck, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar.
YES Bank has its steady-handed rebuilder in Kumar to thank for survival. Now it has a scale-obsessed growth banker at the wheel. The next chapter starts April 6.
