MUMBAI: The International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (IATAS), New York has unanimously elected ASC Enterprises Ltd group president and CEO Punit Goenka as a director of the Academy.

Touted as the largest organisation of global broadcasters with members from 61 countries and over 250 companies, the Academy announced the appointment at a board meeting held in New York.

A release from Zee informs that Goenka received a letter from the IATAS president Bruce L Paisner confirming the appointment.

Beside informing Goenka about his appointment, the letter also comprises board's advice on the International Emmy Award rules and regulations as well as the management of the organisation.

Goenka, currently responsible for launching India's first DTH service under the brand name Dish TV, began his career in 1995 with the Essel Group.

Son of media mogul Subhash Chandra, Goenka has also been with ASC Enterprises Limited for over five years, previously as vice president co-ordination and operations, and now as the group president and CEO.

ASC Enterprises is a moving force behind ACL (Agrani Convergence Limited) a retail chain of choice for convergent TIME products and services (TIME: Telecommunications, Information, Learning, Media and Entertainment) and India's largest Radio Trunking company.

Punit was also instrumental in launching Zee group's Hindi music channel Zee Music.

As for IATAS, founded in 1969 to promote excellence in international television programming, the New York based Academy produces the iEmmys festival and International Emmy Awards. Held at New York city, in the month of November every year, the awards ceremony is established to recognise the best television programs produced.

The Academy foundation also oversees a number of professional educational programmes for the global television industry, says the release.