MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) has appointed Piyush Sharma in its leadership team as CEO – new initiatives, India & APAC. 

Sharma will be responsible for leading Zee’s new initiatives, which will showcase programming and content across multiple media platforms including TV, web, mobile and an on-demand streaming service.

Zeel MD and CEO Punit Goenka said, “Strengthening and bringing focus through deployment of right resources in businesses is a part of our organisation’s aspiration to achieve continued growth. Over the last two decades, Zee has been strengthening its position in the global markets. Piyush is known in the industry for his ability to reimagine businesses and build innovative business models. We have been laying special focus on content in the emerging markets and we are confident that Piyush’s talent and experience will help us in attaining our goal. We welcome Piyush to the Zee family and wish him success.”

Sharma is known to be a start-up enthusiast with a proven reputation for value creation and growth. In his most recent stint, he has been credited with creating successful case studies, while bringing the licensed editions of some of the world’s most powerful international media brands into the country. He helped launch and build brands like Sports Illustrated, Travel + Leisure, Better Homes & Gardens and Maxim.

Sharma added, “I am very excited about landing this tremendous opportunity at Zee. Both India and APAC are thriving markets and with the talented teams at Zee, I am confident that we would be able to create a profitable and large opportunity canvass while nurturing and strengthening the businesses in these markets.”

Sharma last served as CEO for India operations of the $4 billion German MNC Burda International - operating in 18 markets with more than 300 consumer magazine brands.