Pradeep Guha quits The Times of India group, headed to Zee as CEO
Pradeep Guha has put in his papers today. He confirmed the same to exchange4media exclusively. Guha is leaving Bennett, Coleman & Co. after a highly productive stint of almost three decades to join Zee Telefilms Ltd as CEO.
Pradeep Guha has put in his papers today. He confirmed the same to exchange4media exclusively. Guha is leaving Bennett, Coleman & Co. after a highly productive stint of almost three decades to join Zee Telefilms Ltd as CEO.
Pradeep Guha, currently the President of The Times of India Group, who is also on its Board of Directors, joined the media giant in the mid-70s. His new responsibility at Zee Telefilms will commence mid-January 2005. All channels of the Zee Network except Zee News will be in Guha’s custodianship.
Talking about his transition into the television medium, Guha said, “Essentially both are media operations and have commonalities. However, the nuances are different and I have to learn those. The mandate is to revive the organisation and bring back its glorious days.”
Confirming his appointment, Subhash Chandra, Chairman, Zee Telefilms Ltd., said, “We are happy to announce the appointment of an accomplished professional like Pradeep as the CEO of Zee Telefilms. Our numerous channels spanning several languages and genres will be the perfect foil to his skills as a media and entertainment expert.”
On his long stint at The Timnes of India Group, Guha said that he enjoyed every moment of his time. “I have learnt everything about business from this company. But I have done all that can be done in print now. I needed to explore other vistas and so the decision to join Zee Telefilms,” he remarked.
In the Times Group, apart from ad sales, Guha played a role in content as well. He introduced the culture of Page 3 through Bombay Times. In addition, he has been the publisher of Femina and Filmfare since the 90s. To his credit, he nurtured and increased the profile of the Femina Miss India Contest and Filmfare Awards in his capacity of National Director for these mega events.
Guha is the only third non-media owner after Naresh Mohan (Hindustan Times) and Shobha Subramanyam (Anand Bazar Patrika) to become president of the Indian Newspaper Society (INS). Apart from this position, he is also the Chairman of the National Readership Studies Council, immediate past President of the Advertising Club Bombay, India’s representative to the Cannes Advertising Festival and, as an Executive Committee member of the Advertising Council of India, is the official representative to the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations.
Guha also spearheaded the conceptualisation, organisation and execution of Asia’s largest biennial advertising congress, AdAsia 2003, which was held in Jaipur.
