Pavan Varshnei’s dilemma: media or advertising?

Pavan Varshnei, who took over the business division of the India Today Group in 2004 after spending 14 years in advertising, might be going back to his advertising roots. He put in his papers at the India Today Group last month and is currently working out his notice. Talking to agencyfaqs!, he revealed, “I have a few offers in hand both from media and entertainment and advertising, and I’ll be taking a decision soon.”

Varshnei took over the India Today (IT) Group’s business division with Business Today and Golf Digest, and rapidly expanded its portfolio of magazines. He identified new segments and, during the past three years, successfully launched four new publications: Scientific American, Harvard Business Review, Men’s Health and BT More. He also negotiated a joint venture with Germany’s Axel Springer Group to launch Auto Bild India, and increased the circulation of Time and Fortune, both of which magazines the IT Group’s business division markets in India.

Varshnei is a Chevening scholar from the London School of Economics, UK. He graduated from St Stephen’s College, Delhi, and holds an MBA with distinction from the Asian Institute of Management, Manila.

According to reliable sources, two senior managers working under Varshnei at the IT Group, Raktim Das and Bidur Sagar, have also quit the group, but this could not be confirmed officially.