As Sanjog Gupta takes over as CEO of ICC, capping a decades long career at Star TV, few know that it was Uday Shankar who spotted and hired Sanjog Gupta fresh out of college, the then CEO of Star India and the current Vice Chairman of Jiostar India.
A journalist-turned-media executive himself, Shankar broke from industry tradition by hiring professionals from outside the conventional entertainment or television fold. Whether it was tech, FMCG, telecom, consulting, or journalism, he brought in curious minds, risk-takers, and sharp strategists and then gave them the space, mentorship, and firepower to lead.
Today, many of those handpicked talents have gone on to become CEOs, global leaders, founders, and decision-makers across media, technology, and digital platforms. From Google and Snap to Netflix, JioStar, and the ICC—Shankar’s alumni are everywhere, reshaping what media leadership looks like in India and beyond.
Here’s a look at the outsiders who became insiders—and are now industry shapers—under Uday Shankar’s leadership.
Sanjog Gupta
New Role: CEO, International Cricket Council (appointed on July 7, 2025)
Sanjog Gupta, currently the CEO of Sports and Live Experiences at JioStar, has recently been appointed CEO of the ICC—marking a major international milestone in a career shaped by the Shankar era at Star India.
Gupta joined Star in 2010 and rose steadily through the ranks, eventually becoming CEO of Sports in 2020. His early career spanned roles at The Tribune, TV Today Network, ABP, and NDTV, but it was at Star that he became instrumental in redefining sports broadcasting in India. He started as a Correspondent at the Tribune from 2002 to 2008, then worked as an Associate Executive Producer at the then Star News India from 2004 to 2007. He was also a News Editor at NDTV from 2007 to 2009.
Kiran Mani
Current Role: CEO, Digital, JioStar
Before joining Uday: General Manager, Android/Google Play Asia Pacific and Japan
Kiran Mani, now leading JioStar’s digital business, came into the fold during the post-merger transition in late 2024. Before that, he helmed Viacom18 as CEO and spent over a decade at Google, where he joined as Head of Sales-India and went on to hold positions like Director of Global Accounts, Managing Director of US Retail and finally General Manager-Android for Asia Pacific and Japan before he joined Viacom18.
He also co-founded and sold the ad tech platform Fosbury Flop, following an earlier stint at Microsoft where he was the Senior Director – Marketing, Strategy and Operations. He spent a little over eight years at IBM where he started as a brand manager and went on to become the Vice President ASEAN before moving to Microsoft. While not from a traditional broadcast background, Mani’s strategic leap into the Indian media ecosystem was enabled and accelerated during the Star-Jio transition period.
Sanjay Gupta
Current Role: President, Google Asia Pacific
Before meeting Uday: CMO, Bharti Airtel
Sanjay Gupta joined Star India as COO in 2009, eventually becoming its MD in 2016. His leadership spanned the transformative Hotstar years and Star’s deeper integration with sports, entertainment, and regional content. Prior to that, he was Chief Marketing Officer at Bharti Airtel from 2007 to 2009. He began his career at Hindustan Unilever, where he went on to lead marketing for two of the company’s critical segments: Oral and Home care.
He joined Google India as Country Head and VP in 2020, where he continued to shape the tech-media convergence story. He was elevated as the President in July last year.
Ajit Mohan
Current Role: Chief Business Officer, Snap Inc.
Ajit Mohan’s early editorial stint at The Wall Street Journal gave way to a strategy-focused media journey under Uday Shankar’s guidance. He started his career as Consultant with Arthur D Little in 1997 and moved on to McKinsey & Company in 2005 as the Management Consultant and was promoted to Fellow, McKinsey Global Institute. From 2010 to 2011, he was a Columnist, India Real Time with The Wall Street Journal, before he joined Star TV Network in 2012 as Senior Vice President, Corporate after which he was promoted to be the Executive Vice President. In 2015 he became the CEO of Hotstar before moving to leading Meta India in 2019 where he joined as the Vice President and Managing Director. Now he is overseeing business globally at Snap Inc, where he holds the position of Chief Business Officer.
Gaurav Banerjee
Current Role: MD & CEO, Sony Pictures Networks India
A newsroom native turned media executive, Gaurav Banerjee was instrumental in growing Star Plus, Hotstar, and the network’s regional brands.
His over two decades of experience in the media and entertainment industry started as an assistant producer and anchor for Aaj Tak. Banerjee joined Star India in 2004 as Anchor and Executive Editor of Star News’ Prime Time shows. As an anchor, he has covered the Afghan war and the General Elections.
He joined Star India in 2008 and his 16-year run culminated in leadership roles spanning content, strategy, and growth. He held the position of President, Hindi Entertainment at Star India before taking over Sony Pictures Networks India in August 2024.
During his tenure at Star India, Banerjee was instrumental in launching chart-topping shows across both linear TV and digital platforms. As Head of the Hindi Content Studio, he introduced a slate of shows that consistently ranked among the top 10 in their category. Regional content has been a particular strength of Banerjee’s. He expanded Star’s presence in Bengal and Maharashtra with channels like Star Jalsha and Star Pravah.
Gayatri Yadav
Current Role: Group CMO & EVP, Strategic Initiatives, Reliance Industries
Before meeting Uday: Marketing Director at General Mills
Prior to joining Uday Shankar at Star India, Gayatri Yadav was the Marketing Director at General Mills, a food company for over 14 years from 1996 to 2010. Known for brand building and strategic vision, Yadav was a pivotal marketing leader at Star India from 2011–2019 where she was President, Consumer Strategy and Innovation during the last three years in the company. Following her stint with Star India, she went on to become the Chief Marketing Officer India and SEA at Sequoia Capital from 2020 to 2023, then CMO at Peak XV Partners. She also serves on the board of the Paani Foundation and PRS Legislative Research. She has driven key campaigns across telecom and digital.
