MUMBAI: If Indian media were a cricket match, Network18 just did a solid mid-innings shuffle. In a strategic rejig designed to sharpen its digital edge, the media giant named Puneet Singhvi as chief strategy officer and elevated Mitul Sangani to CEO of News18 Digital. Both appointments were announced on 4 April 2025.

Singhvi will don the hat of digital architect-in-chief, leading the centre of excellence (CoE), central product & tech, partnerships, off-platform ventures, and admin & operations across the group. He reports directly to Network18 Media MD Rahul Joshi. The message? Strategy is no longer just a buzzword—it’s a boardroom weapon.

Meanwhile, Sangani will steer the ship at News18 Digital, taking charge of product, tech, audience growth and the ever-crucial revenue engines across News18 and Local18. Previously the CEO of Indian language businesses at Network18, Sangani knows the terrain. His new role will have him report to Network18 (broadcast) CEO Avinash Kaul for digital revenues, while working closely with Joshi on broader strategic alignment.

The digital sales teams of News18.com and Local18 will also report to Sangani, signalling a tighter operational handshake between growth, content, and commercial.

"Network18’s digital business has grown significantly over the past few years, making it one of the largest players in the industry in terms of audience and revenue. It has a diverse set of brands with a strong presence on and off platforms. Moneycontrol, Firstpost, and News18 will be the key strategic priorities in the year ahead," the company stated.

Kaul will continue to oversee the Indian languages broadcast business, ensuring continuity while the digital play scales up.

With a rising tide of digital disruption and audiences consuming news faster than you can say “breaking”, Network18’s leadership switchboard just lit up—and the moves look calculated, not cosmetic.