Network18 Appoints New Group CEO

MUMBAI: B. Saikumar has been named as the group CEO of India’s Network18, taking over from Haresh Chawla, who resigned earlier this month.

Saikumar had been serving as the group COO, and now takes over responsibility for the strategic and operational management of the Network18 Group. This covers news, web, publishing, factual and allied businesses, including IBN General News Network, Forbes India, AETN18 and others. He will also be joining the Boards of Homeshop18 and Viacom18. He reports to Raghav Bahl, the founder and editor of Network18. Prior to joining the Network18 Group, Saikumar was with the Times of India Group, where he worked with Times Music, Times Retail and Times FM. 

Bahl said, “Haresh has led Network18 with extraordinary distinction in the first phase of our growth and identity. Now, as we gear up for our most ambitious phase yet, I am convinced that Sai (or ‘B Saikumar’ as the world knows him, formally) has the inclusive skills and mature leadership that are needed to get us there—he has our best wishes and our wholehearted support.”

Chawla added, “I am absolutely delighted to handover the mantle to Sai, who has worked very closely with me for over a decade, as we built the Network18 franchise. He has seen the Network grow from its very early days across various businesses, which has given him a width of experience that is tough to find in the media business. He is an accomplished leader and a true people’s person and I have no doubt that he’ll take the legacy forward to even greater heights. I will always be available to him as a friend and mentor and wish him success.”

Saikumar commented, “It’s an honor to lead this world-beating team at Network18. The next phase of growth promises to be exciting and I look forward to it. Building upon the inspiring legacy left behind by Haresh, we have some very ambitious dreams for the future and we intend to see each one of them fulfilled.”