Discovery Networks appoints Karan Bajaj as SVP and GM for South Asia

Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific has appointed Karan Bajaj as senior vice-president and general manager of South Asia effective October17. Bajaj will focus on re-formulating Discovery’s product suite in line with accelerating demand for regional and digital offerings. He will also be responsible for executing on the company’s stated ambition to step outside of its current category leadership to build broader flagship brands and actively seek out inorganic growth opportunities.

  

The Discovery Network operates a bouquet of 11 channels in India across genres with the infotainment (wildlife, lifestyle, travel, entertainment etc) with standard definition and high definition offerings. The channels are available in English, Hindi and regional languages like Tamil. 

 

Bajaj will be based in Mumbai and report to Arthur Bastings, president and managing director of Discovery Networks Asia Pacific. Bastings said, “India has quickly become one of Discovery’s top-priority global markets. These are exciting times as we strategically step up our investments to take advantage of very dynamic growth in both TV and digital. Karan brings that rare combination of creative flair, a strong instinct for the Indian millennial zeitgeist and a cutting-edge leadership style. His proven track record of scaling businesses and brands speaks for itself.”

Bajaj brings over 15 years of brand management and digital strategy experience across Asia and North America. Bajaj was most recently with baby specialist Aden and Anais in New York where he spearheaded marketing, design and advertising as Chief Marketing Officer, specialising in digital approaches. Prior to that, he was in a variety of senior strategy and brand leadership roles with Kraft, Boston Consulting Group and Procter & Gamble.  

Prior to Bajaj, Rahul Johri (currently the CEO of Board for Control of Cricket India) held the position of EVP and general manager at Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific. Johri, whose stint with the network lasted over a decade and a half, stepped down at the beginning of the year and started his innings at the BCCI on June 1.