MAM
Traditional media to lose takers in post-Covid2019 world: Mark Reed
NEW DELHI: Most of the ad spends deducted from traditional media might not come back post-pandemic, predicted WPP CEO Mark Reed at the e-FICCI Frames conclave today. He was talking to EsselPropack Ltd CEO Sudhanshu Vats in a fireside chat. The duo talked in depth about the growth of digital technologies in the media and marketing industry in the post-pandemic world.
Reed, however, was quite positive that the industry will be quick to move back to growths it showcased in the earlier years. He said, “Advertising spend will definitely bounce back but it will be defined by changes in consumer behaviour. If we look at the UK and the US market, the dip that the print industry witnessed during the lockdown, it might not be able to get back (revenue in pre-Covid2019 times). The demand will be generated through digital and is not going to traditional media in the same manner.”
He supported his hypothesis by sharing the growth in the stock values of digital companies like Alphabet, Apple and Tesla in the western markets, despite an overall dip in the stock market.
Reed insisted that even the viewing habits of consumers across the globe will be leaning towards digital platforms going forward. “If we talk about traditional broadcasters in the western market, the core programming like sports, live events, and television shows have dropped in frequency. This will make the users move to digital counterparts like Netflix.”
He added that digital properties like esports will definitely be able to maintain the growth it witnessed during the covid times.
Speaking about the Indian market, Reed showed great positivity in the growth prospects of the economy as well as consumer sentiment once the lockdown is lifted, however some categories will take a little longer to bounce back.
Sharing some data, he noted that most Indians are looking towards visiting a hair salon while most of them are not looking forward to going out to restaurants for at least a few months. International travel might take a few years to get the same attention.
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MAM
Gurpreet Singh named President of DishTV Alumni Network
Former Dish TV executive to lead community building and collaboration.
MUMBAI: Back to the dish, but this time it’s about connections, not channels Gurpreet Singh is returning to familiar territory with a new mandate that swaps subscribers for relationships. Singh has been appointed President of the DishTV Alumni Network, a move aimed at strengthening ties among former employees and building a more engaged professional community around the Dish TV ecosystem. The initiative reflects a growing trend among large organisations to formalise alumni networks as platforms for collaboration, mentorship and business opportunities.
The appointment draws on Singh’s deep-rooted history with Dish TV, where he held multiple leadership roles over nearly a decade. As National Business Head between June 2019 and September 2020, he oversaw profit and loss as well as operations, managing revenues of Rs 6,000 crore and leading a team of around 1,250 employees across the country. His tenure included working alongside two regional business heads and 16 circle heads, underscoring the scale of operations he handled.
Prior to that, Singh served as Executive Vice President and National Head for Sales and Revenue from 2016 to 2019, and earlier as Senior Vice President and National Head for Sales and Revenue. He also briefly led international operations as Country Head for Sri Lanka, further expanding his exposure across markets.
His broader career spans leadership roles across telecom and consumer businesses, including a stint as Chief Operating Officer at Bharti Airtel’s Malawi operations, senior leadership roles at Reliance Communications, and earlier positions at Hindustan Sanitaryware and Kodak India, where he spent over a decade.
In his new role, Singh is expected to focus on reconnecting former employees, fostering collaboration, and building a structured alumni ecosystem that leverages shared experience and industry networks. As companies increasingly recognise the long-term value of their extended workforce, the DishTV Alumni Network appears set to turn nostalgia into a strategic asset, one connection at a time.
