MAM
Sanjeev Bikhchandani appointed to MakeMyTrip.com board
Bangalore, February 24, 2006: MakeMyTrip.com, India’s leading online
travel company and among the most successful Internet companies in the country, today announced the appointment of Mr. Sanjeev Bikhchandani as an independent member of the board of directors of MakeMyTrip.com.
Sanjeev Bhikchandani, CEO of Naukri.com is a veteran in the online industry and has established some of the most successful internet companies in India.
Sanjeev holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from St. Stephen’s College and is a management graduate from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. Sanjeev has vast experience across industries having worked with companies like Lintas India Ltd. and SmithKline Beecham among others. He was the Editor of Avenues – the careers supplement of The Pioneer and has also co-authored two books on job hunting and careers.
Mr Deep Kalra, Founder and CEO, MakeMyTrip.com, welcomed Sanjeev Bikhchandani recruitment to the board. He said, “MakeMyTrip has witnessed phenomenal growth since its launch in September 2005 and we are delighted to have Sanjeev on our board at this time. We are selling over 1000 tickets and 100 room nights daily and have more aggressive plans for 2006. With Sanjeev joining the board, we are confident his rich experience and understanding of the online industry will give strategic direction to our growth plans.”
Commenting on his appointment to the board, Sanjeev Bikhchandani said,
“When it comes to buying travel, MakeMyTrip has changed the way travel is bought today. Earlier, the travel agent was the one who was deciding for us whereas today we have all the information to plan on our own. This shift in decision making will revolutionise the way travel is bought in India and I am pleased to be a part of it.”
About MMT
MakeMyTrip was launched in 2000 as an online travel company catering to the USA to India market. The company registered sales of over Rs 100 crores in the fiscal year ending March 2005. For the current year, MakeMyTrip is on track to achieve sales of Rs 200 crores.
Headquartered at New Delhi, MakeMyTrip has served over 40,000 Indian customers and about 45,000 customers for the US – India operations. With a registered database of 130,000 NRI’s the US market has witnessed an impressive year-on-year customer renewal rate of 30%.
MAM
Dish TV shareholders approve three independent directors
99.49 per cent vote of confidence strengthens board as company expands into connected TV, e-commerce and OTT.
MUMBAI: Dish TV has just been served a near-perfect vote of confidence and the shareholders have dished it out in style. Shareholders of the DTH operator have approved the appointment of three new Independent Directors with an overwhelming 99.49 per cent approval. The three appointees are Mr Arun Kumar Kapoor, Ms Heena Naishadh Bhatt and Mr Ashok Anant Paranjpe.
The strong mandate reflects continued investor faith in the company’s strategy, disciplined execution and long-term value creation. It comes as Dish TV focuses on stabilising its core DTH business while actively scaling new verticals connected TV platform VZY, B2B e-commerce ShopZop, and OTT service Watcho to build a more diversified and resilient growth trajectory.
Dish TV India Limited, CEO & executive director Manoj Dhobhal said, “We are encouraged by the shareholders’ approval of the appointment of the Independent Directors and sincerely thank them for their continued trust and confidence. The Board is already benefiting from the Directors’ collective experience, which will further sharpen strategic focus and support disciplined execution.”
With a fresh, strengthened board in place, Dish TV is well positioned to navigate the evolving media landscape. In a sector where every percentage point matters, a 99.49 per cent thumbs-up is the kind of ringing endorsement that suggests the company’s recipe for the future is already tasting right.
