Keshet Asia Sets Up Office in Mumbai

Keshet Asia, the Hong Kong-based subsidiary of Keshet International (KI), has launched an office in Mumbai and hired two executives.

Arpit Agarwal has been appointed director for India and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), working under Gary Pudney, the head of Keshet Asia. Mihir Karlekar becomes senior sales manager for India and SAARC. The execs are charged with increasing the volume of KI’s scripted and non-scripted formats being adapted in India and finding local IP for international distribution. They will also co-develop with Indian creators and prepare for the establishment of a local production business in the future.

Agarwal joins Keshet Asia from Bomanbridge Media, where he served as director of business development and sales for South Asia. Mihir Karlekar previously worked for LeEco as senior manager of content business development and strategic alliances.

The opening of Keshet’s Mumbai office follows the launch of local versions of KI’s Prisoners of War and Rising Star in the country.

Pudney commented: “India is a vibrant market in which we see huge potential. The success of Prisoners of War and Rising Star has demonstrated our catalog’s ability to resonate with local viewers, but as well as selling more content into the region, we are equally keen to begin producing and acquiring IP. With Arpit and Mihir on board, we feel we have the right people in place to capitalize on our success and drive the business forward.”

Agarwal added: “Keshet International has made rapid inroads into the Indian market in the last year and I’m hugely excited at the prospect of further expanding its footprint in the SAARC region—home to over a billion eager TV viewers.”