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Kantar makes management changes at IMRB International
MUMBAI: Kantar has announced a change of leadership at IMRB International, which will see Preeti Reddy take over from long-serving president Thomas Puliyel when he retires in August, this year.
Reddy, currently senior vice-president, will work alongside Puliyel during the next few months as the transition takes effect. Once president, she will report to Kantar president Wayne Levings.
Levings commented, “Thomas has made an outstanding contribution to IMRB and the broader Indian research market throughout his long and distinguished career. Under his leadership, IMRB has continued to improve and innovate around its offering, expanded into new markets and sectors and has been consistently recognised as the leading research agency in India. He leaves with our thanks and best wishes for his retirement.”
Levings further added, “In Preeti, we have an excellent new leader of IMRB. She brings a combination of strong client leadership, general management and consulting capabilities. With the very strong leadership team she has around her, IMRB will continue to build on its world-class foundations.”
Reddy has close to three decades of experience in research and consulting, working with leading Indian and multinational companies. She joined the IMRB group in 2009 when she was appointed CEO of LMRB in Sri Lanka. She has previously worked in consumer consulting at Technopak, was senior vice-president at TNS India and has worked with the BAT group in India.
Reddy said, “I’m delighted to be leading such a diversified and vibrant business which continues to define research in the region. We have a great team of experienced and highly competent managers to head our different businesses and I look forward to working with them to build IMRB into an even bigger and better business.”
In other management changes, effective 1 February, 2015, Jasojit Mookerjea, currently responsible for International Business Unit (IBU) senior vice-president and IMRB One joint head will take on full responsibility for IMRB One as well as heading change management and managing the key account directors within the company.
Currently IBU BAT global account director and vice president Sreeram Sreenivasan will take overall charge as IBU senior vice-president based in London. Diptya Mukherjee will continue in his role as IBU vice-president based in Calcutta. The management team at IBU is being further strengthened under the leadership of Sreenivasan and Mukherjee and the proposed changes will be communicated in due course.
Senior vice-president Vivek Gupta will head the Auto, BFSI and Telecom sectors, while the Brand Science business will be merged into IMRB One.
Puliyel joined IMRB in 1981 as manager, overseas projects and remained with the company until 1992 before moving to set up Research International India as country manager. He returned to IMRB as president in 2000. The company has been named research agency of the year eight times since 2005 and Puliyel has twice served as president of the Market Research Society of India.
Puliyel said, “IMRB is a wonderful place to work in. The open, empowered work environment is a great magnet for the best research talent. The freedom that the company provides makes it a great place to learn and realize one’s potential.”
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Steven Davis joins Sony Pictures Networks India as Content Licensing Manager
Seasoned media professional brings over 14 years of syndication and distribution expertise.
MUMBAI: Steven Davis has found a new reel home and this time, it’s at one of India’s biggest entertainment powerhouses. Steven Davis has joined Sony Pictures Networks India as manager of content licensing, marking a significant new chapter in his career within the media and entertainment industry. With more than 14 years of rich experience in content licensing, syndication, distribution, and sales, Davis brings deep operational knowledge and a proven track record of driving revenue through strategic content partnerships.
Prior to this move, he served as senior manager for content licensing & syndication at Rajshri Entertainment for over five years (November 2020 – March 2026), where he orchestrated the full cycle of content licensing and distribution. He has also held leadership roles at Veon Events, Bizzy Baby Media, Yoboho New Media, Vuclip, Saregama India, and Hungama.
In his new role at Sony Pictures Networks India, Davis will contribute to expanding the company’s diverse content portfolio and strengthening its reach across global markets.
The appointment adds valuable expertise to Sony Pictures Networks India’s content licensing team as the company continues to grow its presence in an increasingly competitive entertainment landscape.
From managing syndication at Rajshri to now licensing content at Sony, Steven Davis clearly knows how to keep the stories flowing. His move signals yet another seasoned hand joining the ranks to help some of India’s biggest shows and films find new audiences worldwide.
