It’s now official and public: senior media professional N Dilip Venkatraman has joined Tech Mahindra as Global Head – Media and Entertainment.
With over two decades across media organisation, Venkatraman’s move to the IT services giant comes soon after his decision to move to the media-tech space. So even as a host of other titles adorn his LinkedIn profile, the one that stands out tallest is that Venkatraman is an inventor and holds seven US patents along with his wife, Savvy Dilip.
Tech Mahindra is a Mahindra-owned, Pune-headquartered multinational IT services and consulting company with revenues estimated at Rs 38.6k crores with an employee strength of over 125,000 across 90 countries.
So Venkatraman has cemented his place in the global league. He joined Tech Mahindra last year.
Before setting up VideoTap, his own tech venture in December 2016, Venkatraman was Group COO – Strategy and Business Development of the ITV group where he spent over a year. But it’s his near-eight-year stint at Network18 where he was last CEO of the English and Hindi news channels.
VideoTap, the video technology startup founded by N Dilip Venkatraman (former CEO of CNN-IBN, now CNN-News18 and IBN7, now News18 India) and Savvy Dilip (former Group CMO of ITV Network), has announced that it has been awarded seven patents by the US Patent and Trademark Office for its dynamic, adaptive, real time and non-linear video streaming technology, which enables personalised multi-functional streaming of videos.
Said Venkatraman, Founder and CEO of VideoTap, and co-inventor of the seven patents: “We are excited that our IP portfolio building exercise is off to a good start. We are in the process for filing many more patents. These patents strengthen our resolve to build world class products for world leading customers”.
Added Savvy Dilip, Founder and COO of VideoTap, and co-inventor of the sevent patents: “In linear videos, the main functionality is watching, whereas in Multi-Functional videos the consumer can navigate, engage, participate, get information, personalize and trigger call to action all within the video itself. We look forward to leveraging our IP to build cutting edge products ”
iTV Network has announced yet another appointment in the leadership team by getting on board DilipVenkatraman as the Group Chief Operating Officer, Strategy and Business Development. As part of his new mandate he will be responsible for planning strategic solutions and business development for the network. He will be reporting to Kartikeya Sharma, Managing Director, iTV Network.
Prior to this, Dilip was the award winning CEO of CNN-IBN & IBN7, owned by Network18. With over 23 years of profound corporate experience, including three years in USA he held many key positions at the India Today Group and the Zee Network. A Graduate in Public Administration, he also did his management programme from IIM Bangalore, and the Advanced Management Program from the Harvard Business School, Boston. Dilip believes in leveraging the power of media to energize positive change and shared value creation and has created countless path breaking media initiatives.
Kartikeya Sharma – Managing Director, iTV Network said, ‘I am delighted to welcome Dilipon board as the new Group COO. His strong track record of delivering growth and understanding of the industry, brands and advertisers will be a great asset for us as he joins usat this juncture of aggressive growth.’
On joining the iTVnetwork, Dilip Venkatraman, said, “iTV Network is now at a very exciting point in its journey where it is all set to emerge as the India’s most profitable and largest TV News Network. I am looking forward to drive the growth momentum and add significant contribution to strengthen the network through innovative and effective strategic solutions.â€
N Dilip Venkatraman, CEO, CNN-IBN has now also been assigned the mandate to lead IBN7, the Network18 Group’s Hindi News channel service. In this expanded role, Mr Venkatraman will be responsible for the strategic and operational management of both IBN7 and CNN-IBN. Mr Venkatraman takes over the leadership mantle at IBN7 from Piyush Jain, who is now focusing on the group’s regional news forays.
As will be recalled, Mr Venkatraman was appointed CEO of CNN-IBN in 2010. Prior to that, he was leading thmarketing operations for all existing IBN channels – CNN-IBN, IBN7 and IBN-Lokmat and managing IBN Focus, the customized media solutions unit for the channels. Apart from building CNN-IBN into the one of the country’s reputed news brands, Mr Venkatraman is known for conceptualizing benchmark properties at the Network including CNN-IBN Indian of the Year, Real Heroes, IBN7 Diamond States Awards, Citizen Journalist Awards and IBN7 Super Idols.
Speaking on this development, B.Saikumar, Group CEO, Network18 commented “We believe that the national news market is at an exciting juncture in its growth story and both CNN-IBN and IBN7 are well placed to capitalize on future opportunities. IBN7 has emerged as a brand with a distinct credo of journalism and viewer traction. In Dilip, we entrust the responsibility of exploiting synergies, ensuring sustained profitability and leading the drive to further enhance the brand equity and audience franchise of CNN-IBN and IBN7”
On this occasion, Rajdeep Sardesai, Editor-In-Chief, CNN-IBN, IBN7, IBN-Lokmat said “Dilip has been a core member of the team instrumental in building the IBN news channels into a strong position, beginning with the launch of CNN-IBN in 2005. His remarkable success in building on our values of inclusive journalism has propelled CNN-IBN forward and we’re confident that his leadership of IBN7 will take it to new heights”
Added Mr Venkatraman added “In a highly competitive environment, we believe that IBN7 has carved a unique position for itself. Our goal now will be to unlock the value of its brand and thereby pave the way for further growth. I hope to work closely with the IBN7 team to ensure this objective is achieved”
Venkatraman has over two decades of corporate experience and prior to joining Network18, he held leadership positions at the India Today group, Zee Network and internet company Pugmarks. Winner of the ‘Indian Marketing Award’, Venkatraman is a graduate in public administration and holds management qualifications from IIM Bangalore and the Harvard Business School.
