MAM
Seshadri Shankara joins Bennett Coleman as general manager
MUMBAI: In his new role, Shankara will be responsible for business strategy and revenue planning across the company’s publishing operations. His mandate includes designing long-term growth plans, developing pricing models, overseeing yield management and supporting high-value deal structuring across print and digital platforms. He will work closely with Response leadership to drive category-led strategies, go-to-market plans and portfolio optimisation initiatives.
Shankara joins Bennett Coleman after more than a decade at GroupM, where he served as national head for agency investments. During his tenure, he led investment strategy, inventory valuation and pricing negotiations, and worked closely with media owners and agencies to optimise returns. Prior to that, he held senior roles at GroupM including head of strategic partnerships in India and business head for inventory media.
Earlier in his career, Shankara was head of business strategy and product for inventory media at Matrix, where he focused on supply acquisition, yield management and outcome-based advertising solutions. He has also served as director of a media consulting practice, advising media companies on sales strategy, business planning, organisational structuring and digital transformation.
His previous experience includes roles in product and revenue strategy at Star TV, sales strategy at Times Internet, and yield management and strategic insights at AOL. Shankara began his professional career in the telecom sector, with engineering and operations roles at Tata Communications and Alcatel-Lucent.
With nearly two decades of experience spanning telecom, television, digital media and advertising services, Shankara brings a strong analytical and commercial background to his role at Bennett Coleman. The appointment comes at a time when media companies are increasingly focused on pricing discipline, yield optimisation and data-driven revenue growth amid changing advertiser behaviour and fragmented audiences.
Brands
Radico Khaitan appoints Kunal Madan as chief marketing officer
Promotions signal focus on premium spirits, global expansion and homegrown leadership
UTTAR PRADESH: Radico Khaitan has elevated two long-serving insiders to its top leadership team, signalling a bold push into premium spirits and global markets. Kunal Madan steps in as chief marketing officer, while Sudhir Upadhyay takes charge as chief sales officer, both part of what managing director Abhishek Khaitan calls a consciously built next-generation leadership bench.
“At Radico Khaitan, our growth has always been powered by people,” Khaitan said. “True leadership is not imported, it is cultivated.” He added that empowering internal talent ensures continuity while keeping the company globally competitive and future-ready.
Madan, with over 20 years of experience across global sales and marketing, will drive brand architecture, marketing strategy, and the premiumisation agenda, including travel retail. Upadhyay, who has 25 years in the industry and was most recently national sales head, will oversee distribution expansion and execution across markets.
The leadership reshuffle comes amid Radico’s intensified focus on premium spirits, a segment driving higher margins and international growth. Last year, Ajay Kakkar was brought on to head the Premium On-Trade vertical, targeting modern and institutional channels to boost presence in high-growth segments.
Meanwhile, Amar Sinha stepped down as chief operating officer after contributing across multiple growth phases. Khaitan acknowledged Sinha’s role in supporting the company’s trajectory, while Sinha described his tenure as “an absolute privilege,” crediting Khaitan’s leadership for shaping the company’s strategic direction.
With a homegrown leadership bench and a clear premium agenda, Radico Khaitan is set to accelerate its global expansion while doubling down on brand elevation and market impact.
