MUMBAI: In a bid to strengthen its team, Balaji Telefilms’ ALT Digital Media Entertainment has named Nachiket Pantvaidya as CEO.
ALT Digital was announced earlier this year as part of the group’s strategic intent to extend its creative expertise to the digital domain by developing on-demand, original, edgy and contemporary content for digital audiences globally.
At ALT Digital, Pantvaidya will have P&L responsibility of the company’s operations spanning content, marketing, distribution and revenues as the company gears up to launch its services in 2016.
Balaji Telefilms joint managing director Ekta Kapoor said, “We are pleased to welcome Nachiket to the Balaji family. These are exciting times as Balaji takes a leap onto the digital landscape with ALT Digital - a significant milestone in our growth story. We are most excited as Nachiket brings along not only a rich expanse of industry experience but also new energy and dynamic execution skills to lead our new venture and build a strong and valuable B2C brand.”
Balaji Telefilms group chief executive officer Sameer Nair added, “Nachiket shares our passion for entertainment, has extensive operational experience and brings with him an excellent understanding of the entertainment ecosystem as well as the transformation it is rapidly undergoing. I am confident that supported by a team that is amongst the best in the industry, ALT Digital is on course towards creating its own differentiated position as a leading digital entertainment content creator and distributor in India for global audiences. We look forward to working together, bringing our individual & collective strengths and expertise to the business and creating greater value for our shareholders.”
It may be recalled that in an earlier stint with Balaji Telefilms, Pantvaidya was CEO for the company’s TV content business. Prior to that, he has been with companies like Sony Entertainment Television and Star Plus as business head. He also held several roles in the Star TV network, including head of Star Pravah and managing director of Fox Television Studios. An IIM-Ahmedabad alumnus, he has also held key management roles in BBC and Disney.
Pantvaidya said, “I am delighted to be leading ALT Digital at a time when a tremendous mobile, video and e-commerce revolution is underway and media consumption across the globe is increasingly taking place in digital formats. The increase in the number of devices capable of supporting digital media along with increasing Internet access speed has provided consumers with an option to access the media content of choice - be it information, entertainment or social activity anytime, and anywhere. Against this backdrop, the opportunity to leverage Balaji Telefilms’ creative sensibilities as India’s leading production studio, to a new digital arena is most exciting. We will move from a conventional “one size fits all” approach to a more evolved and targeted approach to marketing and creating unique and differentiated content.”
