Sunil Dhavala joins Chrome Data Analytics & Media

The chief finance officer at the RTL group (for Big RTL joint venture) will join the research firm.

Chrome Data Analytics & Media has announced the appointment of Sunil Dhavala as senior vice-president, strategy and business development. Dhavala is currently working with the Europe-based RTL Group as chief finance officer for its JV with Reliance Broadcast Network Limited, Big-RTL.

At Chrome, Dhavala will report to Jeffrey Crasto, executive director, Chrome Data Analytics & Media, with a dotted line to Pankaj Krishna, founder and CEO, Chrome Data Analytics & Media. Crasto says, "Dhavala's mandate will also involve spearheading Chrome's other business interests in the field of media planning and buying - we are confident of him leading additional businesses through its next phase of growth."

In his career that spans over two decades, Dhavala has worked with National Geographic and Fox Channels for 10 years, last as AVP, finance and HR. He is a new business launch expert and has been instrumental in the launch of Big RTL's Thrill, National Geographic and Fox Traveller, and Rathikanth Basu's Tara channels.

Dhavala has also worked with some of the most reputed names in the non media space including Max New York Life Insurance, Airtel, Encompass, ABC Consultants and Lloyds before moving to the broadcasting industry in 2000.

Krishna says, "Dhavala's experience clubbed with his in-depth knowledge across broadcasting and channel operations will help Chrome develop many more exciting research tools."

For the record, Chrome is a distribution audit specialist in India. Founded in 2008, Chrome Data Analytics & Media has six proprietary distribution tools to its credit. Chrome Distribution Tools are used by more than 180 television channels every day.