Viacom18, the equal joint venture between Viacom and Network18, has appointed Bhavneet Singh, MD and EVP, emerging markets, MTV Networks International (MTVNI), to its management team and board of directors.
Singh replaces Amit Jain, who has moved on to handle special projects within MTVNI. In his new role, Singh will be based in London and continue reporting to Bob Bakish, President, MTVNI.
Singh is responsible for the management and direction of MTVNI’s portfolio of entertainment brands in Russia, Central and Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East and now India. His role includes a specific focus on developing and establishing MTVNI’s portfolio of entertainment brands which include MTV, Nickelodeon, Viva, Comedy Central and VH1 across all media platforms.
Bakish said, “Singh has been the architect behind the rapid growth of our emerging markets business, which has almost doubled in size in the last two years. I am confident that his experience and global and local know-how will ideally position him to help drive Viacom18 to the next level and further establish the business as India’s leading multimedia powerhouse.”
This appointment follows the recent realignment within MTVNI that saw the company’s India business shift to MTVNI’s emerging markets group. The Viacom18 management board comprises six directors, three from each joint venture partner.
Singh initially joined MTV Networks in June 2004, serving as director international sales strategy for the corporate strategy group, working across all international markets. Previously, he held senior positions at Manchester United PLC, IMG TWI in New Delhi, and also at Discovery Channel in Asia.