NDTV has appointed media industry veteran Hersh Bhandari as Brand Advisor & Head, NDTV CoLab, a strategic initiative anchored in integrating brand partnerships, branded content, original IPs and cross-platform experiences.
As brands increasingly seek deeper engagement with audiences, NDTV CoLab brings together storytelling, creativity and commercial innovation to develop content, properties and experiences across television, digital and social platforms.
Bhandari brings nearly three decades of experience across media, business strategy, marketing, branded content, revenue growth and new-business development. During his career, he has held senior leadership roles at Republic World, India Today Television, Times Television Network, Adhikari Brothers and NDTV, building businesses, forging advertiser partnerships and creating innovative commercial propositions.
Rahul Kanwal, CEO & Editor-in-Chief, NDTV, said: ‘As brands look for deeper and more meaningful audience engagement, NDTV CoLab will bring together the credibility of NDTV’s flagship news brands with innovative, content-led partnerships. Hersh combines deep commercial expertise with a proven ability to build businesses and create value for brands. He will drive the next phase of growth in NDTV CoLab opportunities.’
Rahul Shaw, Chief Business Officer, NDTV, said: ‘Having worked closely with Hersh in the past, I have seen his ability to build strong partnerships and create effective solutions for brands. He brings deep industry relationships, strategic thinking and an entrepreneurial mindset. I am delighted to welcome him to the team and look forward to working with him as we grow NDTV CoLab.’
At Republic World, where he most recently served as Chief Executive Officer, Hersh Bhandari led the network’s business operations, overseeing strategic growth, commercial expansion and the development of new business verticals. During his tenure, he was instrumental in launching and scaling channels, strengthening advertiser relationships and creating new opportunities for growth. Earlier, at Times Television Network and India Today Television, he played a key role in developing advertiser partnerships, branded content initiatives and integrated marketing solutions for leading brands. At Adhikari Brothers, he helped launch channels and build the sales, marketing and distribution infrastructure needed to scale them successfully.
Purva Misra, Chief People Officer, NDTV, adds: ‘We are delighted to welcome Hersh back home to NDTV and look forward to the experience, energy and entrepreneurial spirit he brings to NDTV CoLab.’
Bhandari’s association with NDTV dates back to 2003. Between 2003 and 2009, he held leadership positions across NDTV India, network sales and new-business initiatives. As Vice President and National Head, NDTV India & New Business Initiatives, he played a key role in business start-ups, channel launches and the development of new growth opportunities for the network.
On his appointment, Hersh Bhandari said: ‘The most powerful brand ideas today are co-created. They emerge from a shared understanding of what matters to both brands and audiences. NDTV CoLab presents a unique opportunity to bring together storytelling, creators, platforms and partners to build distinctive properties, experiences and conversations that create lasting value.’
At the heart of CoLab is a shift from selling media around an idea to building the idea with the brand – bringing together brand objectives, creative thinking, NDTV’s storytelling capabilities, and an understanding of audiences to create work that is both relevant and distinctive.