As part of the new structure, Kiran Mani, who joined the company as head of digital business (JioCinema) in November last year, will lead the digital and sports businesses, while the entire content business will be under Kevin Vaz, who joined as CEO – broadcast in July last year.
Under the new structure, Vaz will oversee content groups – general entertainment, English youth and music, children and live events – for both linear TV and digital. He will also oversee the film studio business, housed under Viacom18 Studios.
Mani’s overall mandate will include digital product, subscriber management, ad tech (payment discovery), monetization, P&L (except entertainment content) and influencer marketing, in addition to the sports business. Interestingly, sale of linear sports channels will also be under Mani’s purview.
Anil Jairaj, CEO of Viacom18 Sports, who previously reported to the board, will now report to Mani under the new structure.
Mint has seen a copy of the office communication about the changes.
“There is a new structure in place where Kiran and Kevin work together as two co-CEOs. While Kiran is responsible for digital, technology and sports, all content is with Kevin. This has clearly ruffled some feathers and not all leaders are happy with the new structure. Already the original Viacom18 leadership team has seen massive changes over the last year,” said a senior executive at Viacom18, declining to be identified.
An email query sent to a Vicacom18 spokesperson remained unanswered as of press time.
Viacom18’s leadership structure has seen several changes in the past four years. After Sudhansnu Vats, now named MD at Pidilite, left as MD and Group CEO in April 2020, Rahul Joshi, MD, Network18, was given additional charge. In September 2021, Jyoti Deshpande was appointed as Group CEO of the company, in addition to her role at JioStudios.
Last year, when Bodhi Tree, a joint venture of Uday Shankar and James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems, acquired close to 15% stake in Viacom18, Deshpande returned to JioStudios, while Kevin Vaz, a confidant of Shankar, joined Viacom18 as CEO – broadcasting. entertainment, by Disney Star.
Vaz also brought along Disney Star’s Alok Jain, in the role of chairman – general entertainment. This led to the exit of a number of Viacom18 leadership team members, including Manisha Sharma (chief content officer, Hindi mass entertainment), Ravish Kumar (head – regional entertainment – Kannada and Marathi clusters), and Nina Elavia Jaipuria (head of the Hindi and children’s television network) .
Recently, Gourav Rakshit (COO – digital) has also put in his papers and is serving his notice period.
The executive quoted above said four members left Viacom18’s leadership team in the last year alone, and only four original pre-2020 leadership team members are still with the company. They are Ajit Andhare (COO, Viacom18 Studios), Mahesh Shetty (head – web sales), Ferzad Palia (business head – JioCinema), and Anshul Ailawadi (business head – youth, music and English Entertainment)
Moreover, Viacom18 is not the only broadcaster undergoing structural changes. Rival Zee Entertainment Enterprises, after its failed merger with Sony Pictures Networks India, has also started streamlining its business. Last week, the company announced the exit of Rahul Johri, president – business, after a three-and-a-half-year stint. More high-level exits are expected at the company, people familiar with the matter said.
Media experts say the space will see job losses following the Viacom18 and Disney Star merger, as a merged company will see multiple duplicate roles.