Gujarat Samachar ropes in Nilesh Thakkar for its TV business

The company has roped in Nilesh Thakkar as director, sales and marketing for its television broadcasting business. Thakkar will also be responsible for creating advertiser funded programmes (AFPs) and will report to the publisher and managing director of Gujarat Samachar, Shreyans S Shah.

Gujarati daily Gujarat Samachar has decided to set foot into the television broadcasting space with Aas Pas TV, the television banner under which it plans to launch its TV business.

As part of the project, the company has roped in Nilesh Thakkar as director, sales and marketing for its television broadcasting business. Thakkar will also be responsible for creating advertiser funded programmes (AFPs) and will report to Shreyans S Shah, publisher and managing director of Gujarat Samachar.

During his career, Thakkar has been associated with several media brands such as Zee, MCCS (Media Content & Communication Services), Mahuaa and TV9. At Zee TV, he worked as assistant vice-president, Zee Marathi, Zee Gujarati and Zee Bangla.

After Zee, Thakkar joined MCCS as regional manager in 2005. In 2007, he helped launch STAR Majha, and was promoted as assistant vice-president, national sales.

Later, in 2009, he was given additional charge to lead the events team at STAR News and STAR Ananda. In 2010, he became the all-India head for generating new businesses at STAR News and STAR Ananda. His stint with MCCS lasted for six years.

Thakkar quit MCCS to join the Mahuaa group as senior vice-president, national, in April, 2011. At Mahuaa, his mandate was to head the sales functions for the new channels from the Mahuaa stable, and also sell KBC in the regional space. Thakkar reported to Nikhil Seth, president, sales, Mahuaa Group.

Later, he moved to TV9 Maharashtra as senior vice-president, sales and marketing, national. His mandate at TV9 required him to generate new market revenues for the rest of Maharashtra through new verticals. He was also in charge of craft activations, AFPs, and 360 degree solutions to clients.