MUMBAI / NEW DELHI: The Subhash Chandra-promoted Zee Telefilms may see another round of churning at the top with Zee TV president Apurva Purohit having put in her papers.
Purohit is currently serving her notice period and will cease to be an employee of Zee from 31 January 2004. Purohit's is not some sudden exit though. The talk has been floating across the industry grapevine for months now that the well respected media professional was on her way out. Information available with indiantelevision.com indicates that Purohit has been in touch with some top headhunters in the last few months in this regard.
Meanwhile, at Zee TV's offices in Andheri East, Mumbai, Chandra has been conducting extensive meetings across the board since the past one week. Chandra has not only met department heads but even executives much lower down the corporate hierarchy, informed sources say. What all this could mean is some more corporate restructuring at Zee.
An official statement from Zee Telefilms says, "Arrangements are being finalized for a suitable replacement of Purohit, which would be announced next week."
Pointing out that Purohit has decided to "move for better prospects", the statement says the team of Zee Network wishes her success in all her future endeavours. Purohit joined Zee from FCB Ulka's media unit Lodestar in June 2002.
After Sandeep Goyal left Zee telefilms as the group broadcasting CEO, Chandra had taken over the managing director's post too and, hence, Purohit and other channel heads used to report to him directly.
Though Purohit was not available for comment, industry sources indicate that Lodestar would happily take her back. Lodestar executive director Shashi Sinha is known to have high regard for Purohit's professional capabilities.
Another possibility that is being bandied about is that she may team up with the man who got her into Zee - Goyal.
Goyal recently set up Dentsu Communications Pvt Ltd, in which he is a 26 per cent stakeholder along with Dentsu Inc, Japan's largest advertising agency, which holds a 74 per cent stake in the new entity.
A management graduate from IIM Bangalore, Purohit has been in the advertising and media business for 15 years before joining Zee in mid-June 2002. Starting with client servicing, she crossed over to media planning in the mid-90's.