News Broadcasting
Network18 ropes in ex Flipkart exec Manish Maheshawari as CEO of Web18
MUMBAI: The Network18 Group has roped in Manish Maheshawari as the new CEO of Web18. Maheshawari was previously with Indian eCommerce major Flipkart as VP and head of its seller ecosystem. Maheshawari will lead Network18’s digital and e-commerce assets which includes digital portals such as moneycontrol.com, ibnlive.com, in.com, firstpost.com, etc.
As the CEO of Web18, Maheshawari’s immediate priorities will be to drive content, monetization, new business, inorganic growth, and product portfolio management.
Talking about the new appointment, Network18 group chairman Adil Zainulbhai said, “Manish brings with him a good mix of Silicon Valley tech product culture and an understanding of ground realities of India. Both these qualities will be crucial as we take Network18 to the next level of digital transformation. He has a proven track record of taking up projects and achieving a scale of tens of millions, building cross-functional teams that deliver in large setting with an unflinching focus on customer experience.”
Maheshawari can be credited with growing Flipkart’s marketplace by 10x — from 10,000 sellers in February 2015 to over 100,000 sellers in February 2016. Prior to that, he co-founded txtWeb and grew it from scratch with over 16 million mobile users in India alone.
News Broadcasting
BBC to cut up to 2,000 jobs in biggest overhaul in 15 years
Cost pressures and leadership change drive major workforce reduction plan
LONDON: BBC has unveiled plans to cut up to 2,000 jobs, roughly 10 per cent of its global workforce, in what marks its biggest downsizing in 15 years.
The announcement was made during an all-staff meeting led by interim director-general Rhodri Talfan Davies, as the broadcaster moves to tackle mounting financial pressures and reshape its operations.
Between 1,800 and 2,000 roles are expected to be eliminated from a workforce of around 21,500. The cuts form part of a broader plan to save £500 million over the next two years, aimed at offsetting rising costs, stagnating licence fee income and weaker commercial revenues.
In a communication to staff, BBC interim director-general Rhodri Talfan Davies said, “I know this creates real uncertainty, but we wanted to be open about the challenge,” acknowledging the impact the move would have across the organisation.
The restructuring comes at a time of leadership transition. Former director-general Tim Davie stepped down earlier this month, with Matt Brittin, a former Google executive, set to take over the role on May 18, 2026.
While some cost-cutting measures are being implemented immediately, the majority of the structural changes are expected to roll out over the next few years, with full savings targeted by the 2027–2028 financial year.
The broadcaster had earlier signalled its intent to reduce its cost base by around 10 per cent over a three-year period, warning of “difficult choices” as it adapts to shifting economic realities and audience expectations.
With operating costs hovering around £6 billion annually, the BBC’s latest move underscores the scale of the financial challenge it faces, as it balances public service commitments with the need for long-term sustainability in an increasingly competitive media landscape.
