Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has restructured its leadership team following an operational review and a period of executive change.
The changes are aimed at bringing MUmbai-based SPNI’s television channels closer with streamer Sony LIV and impact several areas of business, while empowering leaders to take full control of their units.
Key appointments will see Nachiket Pantvaidya lead Sony Entertainment Television (SET), Sony Marathi, and movie production. Ajay Bhalwankar will take on Sony SAB, the movies cluster, free-to-air channels and Infotainment channels, and Rajaraman Sundaram will lead the company’s regional expansion into India’s South.
A new head of SPNI’s digital business will be appointed. The exit of long-serving Danish Khan, who led SonyLIV and production division Studio NEXT, was announced in December. In the interim, Gaurav Banerjee, MD and CEO of SPNI will lead the division.
The departure of Khan next month is one of a number of top-level exits announced at Sony’s Indian business last year.
Elsewhere, Ambesh Tiwari will lead Benagli-language channel Sony AATH, alongside the kids business, and Rajesh Kaul will become Chief Revenue Officer, a role that will also hand him control of international operations.
Akshay Agrawal has been elevated as Head – Linear Ad Sales, Makarand Palekar to Head – Linear Distribution, digital ad sales boss Ranjana Mangla will additionally handle YouTube strategy, and Manish Aggarwal will lead Sony LIV’s B2B and syndication business. They will all report to Kaul.
There are several others in new positions under the new structure, which Banerjee said came a review of the operating model.
“We are redefining our content strategy from a largely linear-first to a linear and digital approach that delivers seamless consumer experience across platforms,” he added. “By empowering our teams with greater ownership and driving deeper collaboration, we will improve focus, agility, and execution across the organisation, while strengthening our customer-centric approach across brand and content.”
In effect, each programming business line leader will take ownership of content strategy, programming, marketing, and on-air promotions for both linear and digital platforms. As for sales, the new structure will attempt to unify monetization across linear and digital and consolidates ad sales and distribution, sports and international business.
SPNI is part of Culver Max Entertainment, which is ultimately owned by Sony Corp in Japan. The Indian business comprises 28 channels, including Sony Entertainment Television and Sony SAB, a site of sports networks, streamer Sony LIV and producer Studio NEXT.
