People
News18.com Brings Ashish Naik OnBoard As The National Sales Head
National, 23 April, 2018: News18.com, India’s leading digital news platform, expands its top management with the addition of Ashish Naik as National Sales Head. He comes with over 17 years of experience in media sales and has formerly worked with organizations such as Tata Infomedia, BCCL, Business Standard and NDTV Media Ltd. Prior to joining News18.com, Ashish has been a part of Times Internet Ltd, where he served in the capacity of Regional Manager West, and was eventually promoted to National Sales Head.
A Science graduate from Mumbai University, he has done his post graduation in Marketing Management from MET Mumbai. In his current role at News18.com, Ashish aims to bring onboard a maximum number of advertising partners and consolidate the network’s position as a leader in the space.
News18.com has recorded 50 million monthly users, which is an (outstanding) increase of 249% in comparison to last year. The growth numbers recorded by the platform stand testimony to the network’s lazer-sharp focus on delivering extensive and quality political news coverage supplemented by new-age technology and consistent updates to the platform. In only two years, the platform has also touched another milestone – that of 30 million monthly users on mobile, a significant 170% increase in comparison to last year. The platform also (transcended/surpassed) its own high benchmark, with the Budget Day witnessing a record total of 5.2 million users, in a single day, on the platform.
Speaking about the platform’s growth and expansion, Rajiv Singh, Business Head News18.com and CricketNext said, “Last year has been great for News18.com with the platform touching new milestones and setting higher benchmarks in terms of audience engagement and reach. Now, after Gujarat and HP elections we are looking forward to Karnataka elections. And now, with Ashish as the new addition to the team, we are looking at taking things a step ahead and bringing in more and more engaging and captivating formats for our consumers.”
Commenting on the occasion Ashish Naik – News18.com’s National Sales Head said, “I am certainly excited to begin a new chapter in my career with News18.com. With the digital boom still in its nascent stages in the country, it is certainly a great time to be a part of the sector. In my new role at the company, I intend to promote innovative 360 degree properties, which tend to result in higher audience reach and engagement. At the same time, I also intend to adopt a more consultative approach in grasping the requirements and needs of the clients, since a property is a complete success when it appeals to all the stakeholder involved including the consumers.”
About NEWS18.com
NEWS18.com (formerly known as ibnlive.com) is the digital destination of CNN News18 (formerly known as CNN IBN) with hard news as its core offering and interactivity as its key component. Along with a bevy of mobile- and multimedia-enabled content, News18.com is a multi-platform offering that, for the first time, provides viewers/users an opportunity to contribute to the news process and interact with editors and reporters. Manned 24×7, NEWS18.com is powered not just by NEWS18 journalists but also by Network18’s team of over 1,000 news professionals. NEWS18.com is also recognized for its one-of-the-kind offerings such as CricketNext, Compare India, and Indiwo amongst others.
About Network18 Digital
Network18 Digital (N18D) is the digital arm of Network18, one of India’s most diversified media conglomerates with interests in television, Internet, films, e-commerce, magazines, mobile content and allied businesses. N18D is among the largest multi-platform destinations for objective breaking news, opinions, financial data and infotainment for the evolved digital news consumer. Network18 Digital houses assets such as moneycontrol.com, firstpost.com, news18.com etc., and is constantly seeding new ideas to be the dominant force in the digital space. It caters to all sections of society, especially to the digital savvy consumer, the millennials and Generation Z users who access and consume content on the go.
People
BBC appoints Matt Brittin as 18th Director-General
Former Google EMEA president to lead broadcaster from May amid global change
LONDON: The BBC has named Matt Brittin as its 18th Director-General, placing a seasoned technology and media leader at the helm of one of the world’s most influential public broadcasters. He will formally assume the role on 18 May.
Brittin steps into the position after a brief “gap year”, as he described it, returning to the spotlight with a job that, in his own words, was “probably not one either you or I were expecting”. The appointment signals a strategic tilt towards digital expertise at a time when traditional broadcasting continues to evolve at pace.
The new Director-General brings more than 18 years of experience from Google, where he held several senior roles, including President for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. During his tenure, he played a central role in expanding the company’s footprint across Europe and shaping its regional strategy.
More recently, Brittin served as Senior Independent Director at The Guardian, adding boardroom insight from one of Britain’s leading news organisations. His career also spans roles at McKinsey, Trinity Mirror and Sainsbury’s, giving him a broad perspective across media, retail and strategy.
The Director-General position carries dual responsibility as chief executive officer and editor-in-chief, overseeing the BBC’s creative, editorial and operational direction both in the UK and globally. It is a role that demands not just leadership, but a steady editorial compass in an increasingly complex media landscape.
“Now, more than ever, we need a thriving BBC that works for everyone in a complex, uncertain and fast changing world,” Brittin said. He added that the broadcaster remains “an extraordinary, uniquely British asset” with a legacy of innovation in storytelling and technology.
His appointment comes at a moment when public service broadcasters are under pressure to balance tradition with transformation, navigating shifting audience habits, digital disruption and funding debates. Brittin’s blend of Silicon Valley scale and British media sensibility may prove timely.
With “big challenges and big opportunities” ahead, Brittin appears ready to get started. The real test begins in May, when he moves from anticipation to action at Broadcasting House.
