Times Network announces strategic restructuring

The new alignment within the group's sales force is aimed at meeting higher growth targets.

Times Network has announced strategic restructuring for a stronger growth-oriented operating model. Some of these structural changes include Hemant Arora, Hersh Bhandari, Shilpa Shetty, Gaurav Dhawan, Jogajyoti Pati and Rohit Tugnait being assigned newer roles.

The initiative aims at providing significant growth opportunities and greater responsibilities to the existing leadership in the advertising and sales team, which will also inculcate the Network's new brand philosophy of - Now or Nothing.

MK Anand, MD and CEO, Times Network, says, "This refinement in our working model is designed to keep up with the momentum we had been sailing on through the whole of last year. While 2015 was one of hygiene improvements, 2016 will be a watershed year during which we will make an all-out effort to correct our price-value equation and build our revenue base."

Arora who was senior vice president and business head, branded content, has been elevated as the sales head for Times Now and ET Now. Arora has more than 17 years of experience in media sales, including print, internet and television. He started his career at The Times of India in 1997.

Bhandari has been given the charge as national head, ad sales, Times Now, with the mandate to build further on the leadership position. He was previously revenue head, zoOm. Anand says, "I expect Hersh to restore the true premium value that the lead English news platform deserves." He has over 14 years of experience.

Shetty will take over as national head, ad sales, ET Now. She is the first woman to rise to the position of head of sales from within Times Network. She was previously working as associate vice president, ET Now, and has experience of over a decade.

Dhawan will take over as cluster head for English Entertainment Channels. He has 17 years of extensive experience in managing advertising revenue driven business, across television, print and web. Dhawan was previously serving as vice president and national sales head, Times Now & ET Now.

Pati will take over as national head, ad sales India for Times Network. He was previously working as associate vice president, revenue, North & East and has over 15 years of experience. Prior to this, he excelled in various roles for Zee Media Corp, for a decade. His initial years at ETV Network saw him learn and grow in sales for five years.

Tugnait will take over as the national head, ad sales and brand solutions, for zoOm. He has over 13 years of extensive media experience, mainly in the areas of branded content revenue management.

Times Network is part of the Times Group. It houses channels such as ET Now, Movies Now, Romedy Now, Times Now and zoOm.