Star’s new ad sales structure takes effect on Monday

MUMBAI: After the recent resignation of Raj Nayak, director, advertising sales, and his number two who was operating out of Delhi senior VP Niraj Dutt, Star India has restructured its ad sales operations.

The changes become effective from Monday, 14 October, a company spokesperson confirmed.

CEO Peter Mukerjea has taken additional charge and will be heading with three vice presidents – Kevin Vaz, Joy Chakravarti and Monica Tata reporting directly to him. Going by past precedence, Mukerjea will in due course probably select one from among these three to finally head ad sales at Star.

Vaz will handle Star Plus, Star Gold and Star Vijay, Chakravarti Star News and National Geographic (which he is already in charge of), while Tata heads Star World, Star Movies and Channel V.

Three assistant vice presidents have also been promoted as VPs in the ad sales division. These three will now report to the respective departmental heads.

The question of Nayak’s status though is still hanging in the air. As things stand, his resignatioin has not been accepted and it remains to be seen whether Star enforces the service contract that it has with him. Some final decision on that may well have been taken during the meeting that the top brass and sales team had in Australia this week. Mukerjea is expected back in the country late tonight.