Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has confirmed Gaurav Banerjee as its new managing director and CEO. He will take the reins on or before Aug. 26, pending approvals.
Banerjee will step into the shoes of N.P. Singh, who’s signing off after a 25-year run at the company. Singh will move into the role of non-executive chair to support the transition through the end of the financial year.
A content veteran with over 20 years in the business, Banerjee comes from Disney’s India arm, where he wore multiple hats including head of content for Hindi-language entertainment and Disney+ Hotstar. His track record boasts hits like “Anupama” and “Imlie,” plus streaming successes such as the Emmy-nominated “Aarya.”
Banerjee cut his teeth as a producer and anchor at the Aaj Tak news channel before moving to Star News. He’s armed with a master’s in filmmaking from Jamia Milia Islamia and a history degree from St. Stephens, Delhi.
Banerjee said: “Under N.P. 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. Together, we will set new benchmarks in entertainment and deliver exceptional value to our audiences and stakeholders.”
Singh added: “I am immensely proud of the success and innovation SPNI has achieved. I am confident that Gaurav will elevate SPNI’s impressive portfolio to new heights. His visionary approach will undoubtedly continue our legacy of excellence and creativity. I look forward to supporting him and our talented team as we further our impact in content creation, audience engagement, and digital media initiatives. And most importantly, I would like to thank the entire SPNI team for being the fulcrum of our growth and success.”
Ravi Ahuja, chair of Global Television Studios and president and COO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, said: “N.P. Singh’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping SPNI into the powerhouse it is today. I am confident that Gaurav Banerjee, with his proven track record and visionary approach, will continue to drive SPNI’s success. Gaurav’s expertise in content creation and strategic leadership will undoubtedly lead SPNI into an exciting new chapter of growth and achievement. We are thrilled to have him at the helm and look forward to the continued success of SPNI under his leadership.”
The move comes just a few months after the collapse of Sony’s previously amicable deal to merge its Indian film, TV and streaming businesses with those of Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEEL). Had the deal gone through, it would have led to the establishment of a large, content-rich new player in the TV and streaming space that may have been able to compete strongly with the emerging colossus of Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries and its Viacom18-JioCinema nexus.
The merger deal had been in negotiations for more than two years. It officially started in December 2021, gained necessary regulatory approvals along the way, but ended acrimoniously in Jan. 2024 when Sony walked away.
Sony said at the time that certain conditions had not been met. Both parties are now seeking financial recompense from the other.
Despite the collapse of the merger, Sony has put significant emphasis on expansion in India, a youth-driven and expanding market, which in many ways is the opposite of its native Japan. Singh was regarded as a safe pair of hands and was expected by many in the industry to oversee Sony’s next growth steps in the country. He was a featured speaker at Sony Group Corporation’s annual strategy presentation in 2023.
Source Agencies
