Sony Pictures Networks India restructures leadership team
Sony Pictures Networks India has restructured its leadership team to support its evolution into a content-driven, multilingual entertainment company that treats all distribution platforms equally.
The Mumbai-based broadcaster announced the changes on Friday, explaining that the reorganization will give individual teams full control over their content portfolios while breaking down operational barriers between its television networks and the SonyLIV streaming platform. The goal is to create a more cohesive business approach, treating linear and digital distribution as equally important revenue channels.
The new structure places four executives responsible for different content portfolios, with each responsible for all aspects of their channels’ operations, including creative development, planning, audience engagement initiatives and promotional activities for both broadcast and streaming. Nachiket Pantvaidya now runs Sony Entertainment Television, Sony Marathi and the company’s film production unit. Ajay Bhalwankar oversees Sony SAB, its movie channel portfolio, freebies and factual programming. Rajaraman Sundaram has been tasked with building the broadcaster’s presence in South India, while Ambesh Tiwari manages Sony AATH and children’s programming.
SPNI will recruit an external candidate to run its streaming operations, although the company has not yet finalized its choice. Until that appointment, Banerjee will personally head the digital division. Danish Khan, business head of SonyLIV and production unit Studio NXT, will leave SPNI next month.
On the commercial side, the broadcaster brings together its various revenue sources – including advertising, transport costs, sports rights and foreign licenses – under a single executive. Rajesh Kaul will serve as Chief Revenue Officer and lead a team consisting of four newly promoted lieutenants. Akshay Agrawal now handles television advertising sales, while Makarand Palekar handles distribution deals with cable and satellite operators. Ranjana Mangla, who previously focused exclusively on streaming advertising, will now also develop the company’s YouTube channel strategy. Manish Aggarwal oversees business-to-business deals and content licensing for SonyLIV. All four report directly to Kaul.
In corporate functions, Gaurav Laghate takes responsibility for external communications, brand management and public relations. In the meantime, office management and facility activities have been placed under the responsibility of Chief Human Resources Officer Manu Wadhwa.
Gaurav Banerjee, MD and CEO, Sony Pictures Networks India, said: “As we look ahead to our next phase of growth, we have reviewed our business model and organizational structure to ensure they best support our goals. We are redefining our content strategy from a largely linear approach to a linear and digital approach that delivers a seamless consumer experience across platforms. By empowering our teams and driving deeper collaboration, we will improve focus, agility and execution across the organization, as we strengthening our customer-centric approach across all brands and content.”
Sony Pictures Networks India operates a portfolio of 28 television channels available in standard and high definition, attracting over 700 million viewers locally while distributing content to over 150 countries. The company functions as an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation, Japan.
