Rahul Joshi elevated to MD, Network18 and TV18; Sudhanshu Vats is now MD, Viacom18

In a recent development, the board of directors of Network18 Media & Investments (Network18) has elevated Rahul Joshi to managing director of the company for a term of three years, with effect from July 9, 2018. The board of TV18 Broadcast (TV18), the news broadcasting arm of Network18, has also elevated Joshi as its managing director.

L to R: Rahul Joshi and Sudhanshu Vats

Joshi had been associated with the Network18 Group since September 2015 and is CEO - news and group editor in chief. Joshi has done his Masters in Management Studies from Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Mumbai University. Prior to joining the Network18 Group, Joshi worked for more than two decades with the Economic Times, where he rose through the ranks to quickly become one of India's youngest editors and has also worked as its editorial director. He also launched ETNOW and helped shape the digital coverage of ET Online. Joshi has also worked with The Indian Express in the past. He is on the board of the News Broadcasters Association (NBA).

The board of Viacom18 Media (Viacom18), the entertainment broadcasting arm of Network18, has elevated Sudhanshu Vats to managing director. Vats has been associated with Viacom18 since the last six years and is the Group CEO of Viacom18.

Vats is a Management Graduate from the Indian Institute of Management - Ahmedabad. Prior to joining Viacom18, Vats spent about 20 years in Hindustan Unilever (Unilever India) where he worked in sales and marketing and general management roles across categories and shaped many popular household brands. Vats is also chairman of the National Media and Entertainment Committee of CII (Confederation of Indian Industry), vice president of IBF (Indian Broadcasting Foundation) and director of BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council).

Adil Zainulbhai, chairman of Network18 and TV18, says in a press release, "Both the appointees have tremendous skill and experience and will continue to drive our news and entertainment businesses towards leadership as we continue to invest in these areas."

Apart from the above the above mentioned appointments, Network 18 has also announced fresh appointments of Praveen Swami and Gaurav Kalra for roles across platforms.

Swami and Kalra will power their respective specializations across brands and platforms.

Swami has joined as group consulting editor with a specific focus on strategic affairs, defense and diplomacy. He will work across platforms, writing in digital and also appearing as a resident commentator on TV.

Swami joins Network18 from Indian Express where he was the strategic affairs editor and produced both reportage and analytical commentary on a range of stories related to regional security and geo-strategies.

Kalra, in his role as network sports editor, will steer sports coverage across brands and platforms and also oversee the task of positioning and expanding CricketNext.com as the hub for cricket enthusiasts.

Prior to joining Network18, Kalra was the Senior Editor at ESPN Cricinfo, online website for news on cricket. This is Gaurav's second stint with Network18.

Commenting on the new role, Gaurav says, “I am looking forward to my second stint at Network18. CricketNext.com has already established a strong presence among the cricket audience and I look forward to leading the effort to expand the scale and scope of the coverage on the platform.”