Sony Appoints Disney Executive Gaurav Banerjee as India CEO
Japan's Sony has appointed Gaurav Banerjee, a top executive from Walt Disney, as its new chief executive for India. Banerjee, who previously headed content for Disney's streaming service Hotstar and managed business operations for the company's TV channels in Hindi-speaking markets, resigned from his position to take on this new role at Sony, according to an insider.
Banerjee is expected to join Sony in approximately two months. While Disney declined to comment on the move, Sony and Banerjee have not yet responded to inquiries.
The appointment follows Sony's announcement last week that it was seeking a successor for its current India CEO, N.P. Singh, who has decided to step down. Sony operates 26 television channels in India, covering a wide range of genres including general entertainment, sports, and movies, alongside its own streaming service.
Banerjee's transition to Sony comes amidst significant industry shifts. Disney is currently seeking approval from Indian regulators to merge its media assets with those of Reliance, a conglomerate headed by billionaire Mukesh Ambani. This merger aims to create India's largest entertainment company. Additionally, Sony recently abandoned its planned merger with Zee Entertainment, a deal that would have formed a $10-billion enterprise.
Banerjee's expertise and leadership are expected to drive Sony's growth and innovation in India's competitive media landscape
