NEW DELHI: Dipankar Das Purkayastha has decided to step down as the chief executive officer & managing director of the Anand Bazaar Patrika (ABP) Group. He has been associated with the iconic West Bengal media house for over four decades.

The company has released a statement saying, “We take this opportunity to record our appreciation for the services he has rendered to the company. He is a visionary and a legend in our pantheon. He has made the company ready to meet the challenges of the future.”

After joining ABP in August 1979, Purkayastha has seen the company scale great success – spawning multiple print publications, national TV news channels, a publishing house as well as mobile and internet properties. He also led the media giant through periods of great tumult, marked by downsizing, mass lay-offs and conflict with the ruling dispensation in the state.

Deputy CEO Dhruba Mukherjee will take over the reins from Purkayastha with effect from 1 April 2021