STAR promotes Uday Shankar to CEO, Jagdish Kumar to COO

STAR India has promoted Uday Shankar as its chief executive officer and Jagdish Kumar as its chief operating officer. Shankar was COO at STAR India and Kumar was senior vice-president for finance, based in Hong Kong.

Paul Aiello, chief executive officer of the STAR Group, was also acting as CEO for STAR India till now. Uday Shankar will report to Aiello. Kumar will report to Shankar and work closely with him to help optimise operational efficiencies and drive the company’s growth agenda.

Aiello continues, “Jagdish has been with STAR in Hong Kong and in India for more than 12 years. He is a highly skilled executive with in-depth knowledge of the complexities of this business. STAR will count heavily upon him as we grow the business in India.”

Prior to joining STAR India, Shankar served as CEO of Media Content & Communications Services (MCCS), a 74-26 joint venture between the Ananda Bazar Patrika Group (ABP) and the STAR Group. Before that, he was editor and news director at India Today. He was instrumental in launching channels such as Aaj Tak and Headlines Today. Before India Today, he launched Sahara’s news division.

Kumar joined as STAR India’s chief finance officer in 1995, and has held a number of titles, including that of senior vice-president for finance at the company’s headquarters in Hong Kong since 2004. He has served as vice-president of the digital platform group in Mumbai from 2001 to 2004. Prior to joining STAR, Kumar spent eight years with ITC as financial controller (international business, Aqua Group) in Chennai.