Chennai, 16th January 2026: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) today announced a leadership realignment as part of a refreshed operating model aimed at advancing its vision to become a content-first, platform-agnostic, multi-lingual entertainment company.
The changes are designed to sharpen end-to-end ownership across content, accelerate cross-platform collaboration across television channels, and Sony LIV. This will enable a more unified approach to monetisation and distribution across linear and digital businesses.
Gaurav Banerjee, MD & CEO, Sony Pictures Networks India:
“As we look ahead to our next phase of growth, we have reviewed our operating model and organisational structure to ensure they best support our goals. We are redefining our content strategy from a largely linear-first to a linear and digital approach that delivers seamless consumer experience across platforms. By empowering our teams with greater ownership and driving deeper collaboration, we will improve focus, agility, and execution across the organisation, while strengthening our customer-centric approach across brand and content.”
As part of the updated operating model, SPNI will empower its content clusters with end-to-end ownership across content strategy, programming, marketing, and on-air promotions (OAP) for both linear and digital platforms:
- Nachiket Pantvaidya will lead Sony Entertainment Television (SET), Sony Marathi, and Movie Production.
- Ajay Bhalwankar will lead Sony SAB, Movies cluster, FTA, and Infotainment channels.
- Rajaraman Sundaram will lead the company’s regional expansion into the South.
- Ambesh Tiwari will lead Sony AATH, alongside the Kids business.
SPNI will appoint a new head for its Digital business. The company will share details once the succession plan is finalised. In the interim, Gaurav Banerjee will provide direct oversight of the Digital vertical.
To execute a unified monetisation approach across linear and digital, SPNI will consolidate key revenue streams across ad sales and distribution, sports and international business. This revenue engine will be headed by Rajesh Kaul as Chief Revenue Officer.
- Akshay Agrawal has been elevated as Head – Linear Ad Sales.
- Makarand Palekar has been elevated as Head – Linear Distribution.
- Ranjana Mangla, who currently heads digital ad sales, will additionally handle the company’s YouTube growth strategy.
- Manish Aggarwal will lead Sony LIV’s B2B and syndication business.
Akshay Agrawal, Makarand Palekar, Ranjana Mangla, and Manish Aggarwal will report to Kaul in the new operating model.
In other support functions, Gaurav Laghate will lead external relations as Head – Corporate Brand, PR and Corporate Communications, while Administration and Facilities will be aligned to Human Resources, headed by Manu Wadhwa, CHRO.
