MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company (India) Pvt. Ltd. has appointed Shantanu Nalavadi as director of business development with immediate effect.

This was announced by The Walt Disney Company (India) managing director Rajat Jain. Assuming his new role today Nalavadi will be responsible for the vertical development and horizontal expansion of the Disney franchise across multiple lines of business in the Indian subcontinent.

Nalavadi will play a pivotal role in strategising and executing The Walt Disney Company’s business development and growth initiatives for India across television, licensing and merchandising, radio, on-line gaming, mobile and broadband content, studio, home video, publishing and animation.

"Shantanu is a seasoned and dynamic executive with extensive experience in corporate strategy, business development and management consulting. His experience and expertise will be crucial to The Walt Disney Company’s growth in India," said Jain.

Nalavadi comes to The Walt Disney Company with comprehensive experience in the field. Prior to joining Disney he spent close to five years with Star India, where he was actively involved in all strategic growth initiatives across television and new media space, including their DTH joint venture project with Tata's where he was responsible for their content acquisition strategy. Before joining the media industry, he was with ANZ Investment Bank and Arthur Andersen & Co.