Sunil Kumaran gets new role within RBNL

Kumaran has been with the Reliance Broadcast since 2008. He was handling the radio business for the network in Karnataka and Kerala.

Sunil Kumaran, cluster head, Karnataka and Kerala, Big 92.7 FM was recently shifted to handle the language television channels of the group. In his new role, he is business head, language channels, Reliance Broadcast Network (RBNL) and language TV head, BIG RTL. This includes Big Magic and Big CBS Spark Punjabi, while he is also overlooking the recently launched channel, Big RTL Thrill as language TV head.

Kumaran joined RBNL in 2008 as business head for the radio channel in Karnataka and Kerala. He was also involved in the launch of the new channel, Big RTL Thrill.

Kumaran's change in role comes close on the heels of other managerial changes in the company. Recently, Anand Chakravarthy, chief marketing officer, RBNL took on additional charge as business head for its joint venture television network, Big CBS. Chakravarthy has taken over the responsibilities of Vishal Rally, who recently quit the network as business head.

In turn, Kumaran was handed over the responsibilities of the language channels of the network. He will report to Tarun Katial, CEO, RBNL.

An engineering graduate and an MBA from the Mumbai University, Kumaran joined Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising as media supervisor in 1994. He shifted to JWT as media director in 1996. About one and half years later, he moved on to join Lowe & Partners Worldwide in the same capacity in 1999.

Subsequently, he moved on to join indya.com as strategic planning head in 2000. He also worked with Rediffusion DY&R as vice-president, media from 2001. In 2005, he shifted to Universal McCann as senior media director in Bahrain.

Moving on from there, he joined RBNL's radio network.