Mumbai, May 4, 2026: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has announced the appointment of Harsh Deep Chhabra as Head – Strategy & New Business. In this role, he will report to Gaurav Banerjee, Managing Director and CEO, SPNI, and work closely with the leadership team to shape SPNI’s long-term strategic direction, drive enterprise-wide priorities, and identify new growth opportunities across a rapidly evolving media landscape.
Harsh Deep will be responsible for partnering with business units to deliver high-impact initiatives that accelerate topline growth and enhance cost efficiency. He will also lead the evaluation and incubation of new business opportunities aligned with SPNI’s long-term growth agenda.
With over two decades of experience across media, advertising, and digital ecosystems, he brings a strong blend of strategic thinking and executional expertise. He joins SPNI from Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL), where he served as Global Media Head, driving integrated media strategies and building impactful brand narratives at scale.
Prior to GCPL, Harsh Deep was Senior Vice President at Mindshare (GroupM, WPP), wherein he led the Unilever relationship for South Asia at Mindshare Fulcrum and he played a key role in strengthening client partnerships and delivering significant business growth. His career spans leading media owners, including Zee Entertainment, Turner International, and Radio City, as well as global agency networks such as GroupM and Mindshare, giving him a well-rounded perspective across the media value chain.
His expertise spans account management, media planning and buying, analytics, advertising sales, marketing, and investor relations. He has also led several data-driven digital initiatives, leveraging technology and insights to deliver measurable business outcomes.
Comments:
Gaurav Banerjee, Managing Director and CEO, SPNI:
“Harsh Deep brings a powerful blend of strategic acumen and deep industry expertise across media, advertising, and digital ecosystems. His ability to translate insights into decisive, high-impact strategies will be instrumental as we accelerate our growth agenda. I am confident his leadership will unlock new opportunities, strengthen our competitive edge, and create enduring value for the organisation.”
Harsh Deep Chhabra, Head – Strategy & New Business, SPNI:
“I am excited about joining SPNI at such a pivotal moment of transformation. In today’s rapidly evolving media landscape, the opportunity lies in combining strategic foresight with agile execution to unlock new growth avenues. Partnering closely with Gaurav and the leadership team, I look forward to advancing enterprise priorities, build future-ready capabilities, and identify innovative opportunities that deliver sustained business impact.”
About Culver Max Entertainment Private Limited (formerly known as Sony Pictures Networks India):
Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) is the consumer-facing identity of Culver Max Entertainment Private Limited which is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation, Japan. A leading media and entertainment conglomerate, SPNI comprises 28 Premium Channels in both SD and HD formats, including leading Hindi General Entertainment Television Channels – Sony Entertainment Television; Sony SAB and Sony PAL; Marathi General Entertainment Channel – Sony Marathi; Bangla General Entertainment Channel – Sony AATH; Hindi Movie Channels – Sony MAX, Sony MAX 1, Sony MAX 2 and Sony WAH; renowned destination for sports fans – Sony Sports Network comprising Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 2, Sony Sports Ten 3, Sony Sports Ten 4, Sony Sports Ten 5; Kids Entertainment Channel – Sony YAY!; English Movie Channel – Sony PIX; Factual Entertainment Channel – Sony BBC Earth; Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) channel in the US and Canada – Sony KAL; Digital entertainment OTT platform – Sony LIV and the independent production venture for original content and IPs for TV and digital media – Studio NEXT. This Network reaches out to over 700 million viewers in India and is available in over 150 countries.
Recognised as an employer of choice within and outside the media industry, SPNI is a recipient of several awards, including India’s Best Companies to Work For 2021 by the Great Place to Work® Institute, India, Exemplars of Inclusion in AVTAR & Seramount’s Most Inclusive Companies Index 2024 and listed as one of the 100 Best Companies for Women in India for eight consecutive years by AVTAR & Seramount. In recognition of the company’s unique workplace culture and exceptional people practices SPNI won the ET Future Skills 2024 for Best Learning Program Supporting Change Transformation Business Strategy, and the TISS LeapVault CLO Awards 2024 for Best Employee Engagement Program and Best Games Based Learning Program. SPNI is in its 30th year of operations in India. Besides having overseas subsidiaries, it has a subsidiary MSM-Worldwide Factual Media Private Limited, and an affiliate, Bangla Entertainment Private Limited in India.
