Networkplay's New Helmsmen

The company will increase its focus on mobile and online video advertising under the new management.

After the recent exit of its CEO Ampreet Singh, Networkplay has announced a new management team comprising Viren Anand and Hitesh Trehan to take over the responsibility. Both have been associated with Networkplay for a long time now.

Anand is the co-founder and director, operations and publisher alliances while Trehan is the director, sales and new initiatives. Networkplay, the Indian subsidiary of Gruner + Jahr, has also announced an enhanced focus on online and mobile video advertising to provide data-driven value creation for the growing Indian publishing industry. Advertisers are searching for new opportunities and video-driven publisher ecosystems are providing a critical advantage.

Oliver Radtke, chief operating officer and member of the executive board, Gruner + Jahr, says, "The new management team has a portfolio of resilient leadership and skilled competence. They have the full commitment from G+J to continue our focus on growth in India."

Commenting on the way forward, Anand says, "The digital and mobile advertising industry in India is rapidly evolving with the increasing penetration of smartphones and greater acceptance for digital platforms. Networkplay has been monitoring this exciting growth and is transforming into a future ready digital company, building strong technological competence around current expertise."

A firm focus on the growing digital industry has been Networkplay's strategy since its inception. Introduction of innovative solutions like Videoplay - the next generation ecosystem for videos - and important associations with key partners like Tradedoubler and T3 IGI airport, reflect the company's effort to maximise reach.

Says Trehan, "The number of lifestyle devices coupled with speedy technology innovation is creating waves across the industry. It's a very exciting time for all of us and our team is keeping one eye on the present and the other on the future, by constantly developing first of its kind solutions for our clients."

Acquired in March 2012, by Gruner + Jahr (G+J), a division of Bertelsmann, Networkplay Media is a digital agency incubated in 2008 by Webchutney and funded by Capital18. It has assets through alliances across various touch points, and handles over 500 campaigns and six billion impressions per month across Web, DTH and Mobile platforms. It has associated with over 1,000 publishers and 450 advertisers.