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Shantonu Aditya, UTV's ex-executive director, turns entrepreneur

Aditya has joined the company as co-promoter and executive director

Shantonu Aditya, who left UTV Global Broadcasting in November 2009, has joined Manhattan Communications as co-promoter and executive director. He will shuttle between Mumbai and New York to fulfil his responsibilities at the organisation.

Shantonu Aditya, UTV's ex-executive director, turns entrepreneur
Manhattan Communications is a marketing solutions company that provides advertising, branding, PR, marketing (including media, interactive, ATL and BTL) and events management across the country as well as outside India.

Aditya's career spans 25 years across media, consumer durables and FMCG segments. He was associated with UTV Broadcasting since April 2007. He joined as executive director and was overseeing four channels, including Bindass, Bindass Movies, UTV Movies and World Movies. In June 2008, when Arun Anant, chief executive officer, UTVi (now Bloomberg UTV) left the company, Aditya took on additional responsibilities as the CEO of the business news channel.

Aditya says, "It was the proverbial entrepreneurial bug that drove me to Manhattan. There are quite a few action areas that need to be addressed at Manhattan, the most important ones being focusing on the business, strengthening client relationships and building the team."

He adds, "After working nearly 10 years in the television space with Sony Entertainment Television, Sahara One and UTV Broadcasting, and prior to that in the consumer durable and FMCG business, I am excited to become a full time entrepreneur partnering with Adris Chakraborty, chairperson and founder, Manhattan Communications. Manhattan and its affiliate companies have a robust and scalable business model and we have a clear head start, with focus on the global ethnic market and a complete suite of off line and online solutions."

In his new role, Aditya will be responsible for all aspects of the business in India as well as the digital media exchange portal, EthnicOn line.com. He will also handle the US and European portfolios of clients that are based in India for affiliate companies. "The target is to triple the India business during the current year," he adds.

In an official communiqué, Chakraborty says, "Shantonu's vast experience, expertise and relationships in the media and advertising space will help us chalk our growth plans, in India and globally. I am confident that Manhattan Communications will scale new highs under Shantonu's leadership."

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