Sony Pictures Networks India Reshuffles Leadership

Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has revealed a series of leadership changes, affecting key positions across its entertainment channels.

Nachiket Pantvaidya, a seasoned media executive with previous stints at Star TV and Balaji Telefilms, has been appointed as the business head of Sony Entertainment Television (SET). This marks Pantvaidya’s third stint with SPNI. He will retain his current role as general manager at Sony Pictures International Productions, allowing him to leverage his expertise across both platforms.

Tushar Shah, currently the business head of English, Bengali, and infotainment channels and the chief marketing officer at SPNI, will expand his portfolio to include oversight of Sony MAX, Sony MAX HD, Sony MAX 2, Sony WAH, and Sony PAL. Shah, who has been with SPNI for nearly 18 years across two tenures, has been instrumental in driving growth and profitability for the channels under his purview.

Ajay Bhalwankar, who has been with SPNI since 2014 and currently heads the company’s Marathi-language channel, will take on additional responsibilities as the business head of Sony SAB. Under Bhalwankar’s leadership, Sony Marathi has seen growth and now holds a 9% share in the Marathi GEC market.

These appointments come as SPNI, now operating under the corporate identity of Culver Max Entertainment Private Limited, has seen some major changes at the top. Former Disney India executive Gaurav Banerjee is taking charge as managing director and CEO this month. 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.

SPNI, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation, Japan, boasts a diverse portfolio of channels spanning various genres and languages. The company claims to reach over 700 million viewers in India and is available in 167 countries.