Mumbai: Veteran journalist and television anchor Rahul Kanwal is set to take on a dual leadership role at NDTV Group, overseeing both its editorial and business operations. According to media reports, Kanwal will serve as Editor-in-Chief and CEO at NDTV Group, reporting to Sanjay Pugalia, CEO of AMG Media Networks, the parent company of NDTV and news agency IANS.
Kanwal resigned from the India Today Group on Thursday, stepping down from his roles as News Director of India Today and Aaj Tak and Executive Director of Business Today after an illustrious 22-year tenure. His exact joining date at NDTV will depend on his formal release from India Today Group following further negotiations.
As per the reports, Kanwal’s appointment is part of NDTV’s strategic shift towards integrating editorial vision with business leadership. As part of this restructuring, Shiv Aroor, another former India Today anchor, recently joined NDTV Group as Executive Editor, just a month after leaving TV Today Network.
Kanwal’s move marks a growing trend of seasoned TVTN journalists transitioning into top executive roles with business oversight. Prominent examples include Uday Shankar, former News Director at Aaj Tak, who now serves as Vice Chairman of JioStar, and Gaurav Banerjee, another ex-editorial leader from Aaj Tak, who is now Managing Director and CEO of Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI). Notably, Sanjay Pugalia, the CEO of Adani Media Network, also previously held a senior editorial position at Aaj Tak.
Kanwal’s appointment is expected to bring a fresh editorial and business strategy to NDTV, as the network navigates its future under Adani Group’s media expansion plans.