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Business Today unveils jury for 13 edition of India’s Best CEOs Awards
MUMBAI: When it comes to celebrating corporate brilliance, Business Today leads the way. The 13 edition of BT India’s Best CEOs Awards is set to recognise the extraordinary leadership shaping India Inc., with the winners being adjudicated by a distinguished jury on 27 January 2025 in Mumbai.
The prestigious annual awards, designed to honour excellence across industries, will be chaired by HDFC AMC chairman Deepak Parekh. A luminary in India’s financial sector, Parekh is celebrated for his visionary leadership and transformative contributions.
Joining Parekh is a panel of ten eminent business leaders, bringing unmatched expertise and insight to the table:
1. Bharat Puri, Managing Director, Pidilite Industries Ltd
2. Sanjeev Krishan, Chairperson, PwC in India
3. Manoj Kohli, Former CEO, Bharti Airtel; Former Executive Chairman, SoftBank Energy
4. Amit Tandon, Founder & Managing Director, Institutional Investor Advisory Services
5. Amish Mehta, Managing Director & CEO, Crisil
6. Namita Thapar, Executive Director, Emcure Pharmaceuticals
7. Manisha Girotra, CEO, Moelis India
8. Mathew Cyriac, Executive Chairman, Florintree Advisors
This stellar panel will evaluate CEOs on key performance parameters such as financial performance, strategic direction, successful M&A deals, shareholder returns, global expansion, and turnaround achievements.
The awards programme selects its nominees from the BT 500 list, which ranks India’s largest firms by market capitalisation. In addition to its main categories, the awards feature special honours like Business Icon of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, and Impact Leader of the Year.
For over a decade, PwC in India has served as a trusted knowledge partner, ensuring the evaluation process remains credible and rigorous. Their continued association underscores the legacy of integrity and excellence that defines these awards.
The winners of the 13 BT India’s Best CEOs Awards will be revealed during a grand event on 21 March 2025 in Mumbai. This highly anticipated ceremony will celebrate the achievements of leaders whose contributions continue to inspire and transform Indian business.
The BT India’s Best CEOs Awards are more than just accolades—they are a testament to the vision, resilience, and innovation that drive India’s economy. The 13 edition promises to once again spotlight those who have led with distinction and paved the way for a brighter, more prosperous corporate landscape.
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Network18 Q4 revenue grows 9.7 per cent, EBITDA at Rs 30 crore
PAT improves to Rs 306.6 crore, margins steady amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: Not all news is breaking, some of it is quietly improving. Network18 Media & Investments Limited appears to be doing just that, tightening losses and stabilising margins even as costs continue to weigh on the business. For FY26, the company reported revenue from operations of Rs 1,955.1 crore, up from Rs 1,896.2 crore in FY25, signalling modest top-line growth in a challenging media environment. Total income stood at Rs 1,978.2 crore, compared to Rs 1,913 crore a year earlier.
Profit after tax came in at Rs 306.6 crore for the year, a sharp turnaround from Rs 3,225.4 crore in FY25, largely reflecting the absence of large exceptional items that had inflated the previous year’s numbers. On a more comparable basis, the company’s operating performance showed signs of gradual stabilisation.
However, the quarterly picture remained under pressure. For the March quarter, Network18 reported a loss of Rs 53.1 crore, narrower than the Rs 98.1 crore loss in the same period last year, but still indicative of ongoing cost challenges.
Expenses continued to track high. Total expenses for FY26 stood at Rs 2,235.7 crore, up from Rs 2,197.8 crore in FY25. Key cost heads included operational expenses of Rs 765.9 crore, employee benefits of Rs 475.9 crore, and marketing, distribution and promotional spends of Rs 427.1 crore, underlining the continued investment required to sustain reach and engagement.
At an operating level, margins remained under strain. Operating margin stood at 2.33 per cent for FY26, marginally higher than 1.77 per cent in FY25, while net profit margin remained negative at -13.02 per cent, though improved from -14.89 per cent.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 8,957.6 crore as of 31 March 2026, from Rs 8,317.5 crore a year earlier. Equity strengthened to Rs 4,958.7 crore, while borrowings increased to Rs 3,112.8 crore, reflecting a higher reliance on debt to support operations.
Cash flows told a mixed story. While financing activities generated Rs 83.9 crore, operating cash flow remained negative at Rs -24 crore, highlighting ongoing pressure on core cash generation. Cash and cash equivalents, however, improved to Rs 33.9 crore from Rs 1.8 crore.
The numbers point to a company in transition growing revenues, trimming losses, but still grappling with structural cost pressures. In a sector where scale often comes at a price, Network18 seems to be inching towards balance, one quarter at a time.
