Star TV CEO pair ankle News
Aiello to replace Mukerjea, Nair
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 will become 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 beginning at the end of March (Daily Variety, Jan. 22 and Jan. 15).
"Peter and Sameer are two extraordinary executives in the industry," Aiello said 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 that gave Nair operational control and moved veteran Mukerjea into a position responsible only for regulatory issues and new business.
The group has seen its market share slip from 49% to 44%, and, according to local sources, ad revenues have followed downhill.
Nair will oversee the launch of Star TV's schedule in his last two months with the group.
Local sources say he will become CEO of an entertainment operation being set up as a joint venture between news group NDTV and helmer Karan Johar's Dharma Prods.
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.
