HONG KONG — Star TV's dual CEOs in India, Peter Mukerjea and Sameer Nair, Monday both announced plans to ankle the News Corp. company.
Mukerjea, CEO of Star Group India, will leave at the end of January. Nair, CEO of Star Entertainment India, walks at the end of March.
Paul Aiello was named as acting CEO of Star India. Aiello, a former banker who has been with the group for less than a year, was earlier this month announced as Star group CEO designate, replacing Michelle Guthrie from end of March (
Variety, Jan. 22, 2007,
Variety Jan. 15, 2007.)
"Peter and Sameer are two extraordinary executives in the industry," said Aiello in a statement. "The transformation of Star India into the leading television network in the country came in no small part due to their leadership."
The worst kept secret in Indian TV, the departures follow the failed restructuring of Star's Indian operations which gave Nair operational control and moved veteran Mukerjea into a position responsible only for regulatory issues and new business. Meanwhile, the group has seen its market share slip from 49% to 44%, and, according to local sources, ad revenues have followed downhill.
Nair's remaining two months with the group will allow him to oversee the launch of the new schedule. Local sources say he will take up position as CEO of a new entertainment operation being set up as a joint venture between news group NDTV and movie helmer Karan Johar's Dharma Productions.
Mukerjea is understood to be taking over as chair of executive search company INX Global, where Pratik Basu, former boss of Buena Vista in India, is the new CEO.
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