By A Correspondent
Network18 has announced a change in its organisational structure. The group has been recast along three major clusters: English and Business Cluster, which includes CNN-News18, CNBC-TV18, Awaaz and Bajaar, CNBC HD Prime and News18 International; Hindi Cluster including News18 India & News18 Hindi regional channels (UP/UK, MP/CG, Rajasthan, Bihar/JK, Urdu & Himachal-Punjab-Haryana); and Languages Cluster including all News18 regional channels minus Hindi—TN, Kerala, Kannada, Odisha, Bengal, Assam/NE, Gujarat and News18-Lokmat.
Three key appointments have been made to bolster each cluster and drive it to the next level of operational excellence. Basant Dhawan joins as CEO of the English/Business cluster. An engineer and an alumnus of IIM Calcutta, Dhawan joins Network18 from Star India where he spent the last four years in a variety of roles. His last role was National Agency Business Head for Entertainment Sales in Star India. Basant will be based in Mumbai.
The CEO of the Hindi cluster is Mayank Jain, who will lead the fast-growing News18 India and the cluster of other news channels across various Hindi speaking states. Jain, who will be based in New Delhi has joined Network18 from Star India’s entertainment division.
Karan Abhishek Singh has joined as CEO for Languages cluster, also from Star India where he managed Integrated Sales for Television and Digital. Singh will be based in Bengaluru.
The above three will report to Avinash Kaul, Chief Operating Officer of Network18.
The Network18 Group has renamed its Marathi news channel as News18 Lokmat. The channel will unveil a new brand identity and logo along with a refreshed on-air look. The channel’s digital presence will also be revamped with the launch of a newly designed website news18lokmat.com.
The Advertising Club has announced the jury panel for Marquees 2017, the all-new awards event that is scheduled to happen in Mumbai on August 11. Presented by News18 India and powered by Colors and MTV in its debut edition, Marquees 2017 will award brands for their excellence in building effective and sustainable equity.

