News Broadcasting
India Today publishing director Pavan Varshnei quits
NEW DELHI: Pavan Varshnei, the prime mover behind the India Today group’s launching of a slew of magazines, has quit the group.
Two senior managers, Raktim Das and Bidhu Sagar, who were working under him, have also quit the group, sources told Indiantelevision.com.
Varshnei, who left as publishing director-business division, is weighing options in the advertising world and says he decided to move after four years with Living Media because of major opportunities outside.
Varshnei was with Lintas for more than a decade before he joined the Living Media group.
Asked about the resignations of Das and Sagar, Varsgnei said: “Sorry, I cannot comment on that.”
Varshnei took over the division in 2004, with Business Today and Golf Digest as its only two products, but rapidly expanded the portfolio of magazines.
He identified new segments and, during the past three years, successfully launched four new publications – Scientific American, Harvard Business Review, Men’s Health and BT More, which are leading brands in their respective segments.
Varshnei also negotiated a joint venture with Germany’s Axel Springer Group, to launch Auto Bild India.
Prior to the India Today Group, he was Executive Vice President at Lintas India, where he spent 14 years working across the brands of Unilever, Maruti Suzuki, Electrolux, Joyco, Wills Lifestyle and Sony Ericsson, among others.
During his tenure with Lintas, he also served as the Head of Insight and oversaw the AOR media business for Bajaj Auto, Idea Cellular, UTI, Pantaloon and Parley Agro.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.
