India TV forms new company

India TV has formed a new company, India TV Interactive (ITVI) Pvt Ltd. With this new company, Rajat Sharma, chairman, India TV plans to lead its foray into various new media platforms and value-added services.

Arvind Mahendru from GroupM will join as senior VP (New Media), ITVI. He was managing partner at GroupM.

Rajat Sharma, chairman, India TV, said, ''I am delighted to kickstart such an ambitious foray into new media with one of the most highly-regarded new media specialists in our industry.

Arvind has a rich and diverse repertoire and I have no doubt that he will drive the exciting area of developing and monetising new media solutions for the India TV brand to dizzy heights.''

On his new role, Mahendru said, ''I am truly excited about the opportunity given to me by India TV. My brief mission statement for our new media business is to very soon match up to the exacting standards of achievement set by India TV, our group's flagship brand.''

Mahendru was general manager - marketing with Bharti Airtel Ltd in Delhi from 2005-07.

Before this he was chief manager, Broadband, Times Internet Ltd, where he was managing distribution, content planning and acquisition.

He was in-charge of the first ever IPTV product pilot in India, understanding consumer insights, product and consumer value propositions.