MAM
Network18 appoints Raj Jain as Independent Director
Media and retail veteran joins board for five-year term from March 25, 2026.
MUMBAI: Raj Jain just walked into Network18’s boardroom with a CV so well-rounded it could anchor both a news bulletin and a balance sheet because when you’ve run The Times Group, Walmart India and Whirlpool, even corporate governance starts looking like front-page news. Network18 has appointed Raj Jain, former CEO of Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd (The Times Group), as an Independent Director on its board for a five-year term from 25 March 2026 to 24 March 2031.
Jain brings a rare blend of deep media experience and consumer business expertise. He previously served as CEO of Walmart India and Managing Director & CEO of Whirlpool India, giving him a strong understanding of scale, transformation and operational excellence across sectors.
Network18 chairman Adil Zainulbhai said, “We are delighted to welcome Raj Jain to the Board of Network18 as an Independent Director. Raj brings a rare combination of media and consumer leadership, having led Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. (The Times Group) with distinction and built Walmart India’s operations from the ground up. His deep understanding of scale, transformation and corporate governance will add significant value as we continue to strengthen our businesses and drive long-term growth.”
Raj Jain said, “I’m pleased to join the board of Network18 at a time when technology is reshaping how audiences engage with content across platforms. Network18’s strong media-tech capabilities and leadership in building multi-platform brands across TV, digital and the creator ecosystem position it uniquely to drive scale, growth and deeper viewer connections.”
The appointment comes as Network18 sharpens its focus on integrated news and content delivery across television, digital and regional platforms, while expanding into newer formats driven by creators and emerging technologies. The group’s news channels, including CNN-News18, News18 India and several regional channels, continue to lead their respective markets. Its business channels, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, maintain pole position in their genres. On the digital front, both Moneycontrol.com and News18.com remain top players in their segments as per Comscore data.
In a media world where the lines between content, commerce and technology are blurring faster than a breaking-news ticker, Network18 has brought in a leader who has mastered both sides of the balance sheet proving that sometimes the best way to stay ahead of the story is to have someone who’s already written a few bestsellers.
