Sony Pictures Networks India Appoints Gaurav Banerjee as MD & CEO
Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) announced the appointment of Gaurav Banerjee as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective on or before August 26, pending regulatory approvals. Banerjee succeeds NP Singh, who is stepping down after 25 years of service and will transition to the role of Non-Executive Chairman to assist through the end of the fiscal year.
“Under Singh's remarkable leadership, SPNI has achieved tremendous success and innovation in the entertainment industry. I am excited to lead talented teams as we explore new frontiers in original programming, enhance our viewers' experiences, drive our distribution footprint across India, and significantly boost our revenues”, Banerjee stated.
Prior to this appointment, Banerjee served as Head of Content for Hindi Entertainment and Disney+ Hotstar, and Business Head for Star Bharat, along with managing Hindi and English movies, kids and infotainment, and regional (East) divisions.
NP Singh expressed his support for Banerjee and the SPNI team, stating, “I look forward to assisting Gaurav and our talented team as we further our impact in content creation, audience engagement, and digital media initiatives”.
The announcement follows the termination of a proposed $10 billion merger between SPNI’s parent company, Sony Group, and Zee Entertainment Enterprises in January. The merger agreement with Zee, initially involving Sony Pictures Networks India and Bangla Entertainment Pvt Ltd (BEPL), was called off, leading to Sony Pictures Networks India's recent rebranding to Culver Max Entertainment.
Banerjee’s appointment signals a new era for SPNI, focusing on expanding its content and distribution capabilities across the Indian market.
