MUMBAI: Prashant Gaonkar, a seasoned media professional with over 25 years of experience, has been appointed chief executive officer at Alpha Pictures Pte Ltd. Gaonkar, who joined the company this month, brings extensive expertise in content syndication, inflight and maritime entertainment, digital media distribution, and music licensing.
Throughout his career, Gaonkar has held key leadership positions at major media organisations, driving strategic growth and forging innovative partnerships across global markets.
Prior to his current role, he served as head of business development at NH Studioz, where he managed India’s largest film library with over 2,500 titles. His responsibilities included content syndication across linear and non-linear platforms, digital business operations on platforms such as YouTube and social media, and leveraging ancillary rights for inflight, maritime, and surface transport sectors.
Earlier in his career, Gaonkar held the position of vice president, content syndication, and revenue head for music and digital at Eros International. His tenure saw significant achievements, including expanding ErosNow’s music portfolio through partnerships with global streaming platforms such as Amazon Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music. He played a pivotal role in content licensing for broadcast TV and OTT platforms, as well as launching successful AVOD ventures on YouTube.
Gaonkar’s contributions to inflight entertainment are particularly noteworthy. He spearheaded content syndication initiatives for Eros, securing partnerships with over 59 international airlines and establishing a strong presence in African and European markets.
He also held the role of head of inflight entertainment at Crest Animation Studios, where he specialised in supplying programming to prominent airlines, including Air India, Emirates, and Gulf Air. Prior to that, he gained valuable experience as client services manager at both Dattaram Advertising and Shells Advertising, as well as marketing officer at Jasubhai Group.
A physics graduate from K J Somaiya College of Science and Commerce, Gaonkar has consistently demonstrated a strategic approach to media and content distribution, with a focus on scalability and sustainability.
