MUMBAI: After successfully launching CA Media India, Rajesh Kamat has been elevated to Chief Operating Officer (COO) of CA Media, the Asian investment arm of The Chernin Group, LLC (TCG). In his new role, Kamat will relocate to Singapore and report to CA Media Group’s Hong Kong-based CEO Paul Aiello. Core to his new responsibilities, Kamat will provide strategic guidance to the group's existing portfolio investments in the region. He will also support Aiello in identifying and managing growth opportunities for CA Media in Asia.
Before joining CA Media in 2011, Kamat had launched Viacom18’s Hindi general entertainment channel Colors and made a spectacular success of it.
Both directly and through CA Media, TCG has made significant investments in the U.S., Europe and Asia. CA Media will continue to focus on supporting the growth of its existing portfolio of investments, while seeking to expand its position in India and other important emerging markets in Asia.
Kamat will continue to oversee CA Media operations in India while the senior management team – Vivek Raicha and Rishi Negi – will continue to lead their respective domains, as Head of India Investments and Head of India Investee Operations.
Over the last three years, CA Media India has built a strong portfolio of growth investments in the Indian media and entertainment space, including television and film production, live music events, youth media, digital content, intellectual property and graphic novels. In each investment, CA Media has worked with strong on-the-ground partners and local management teams.
CA Media India’s current investments include strategic stakes in Endemol India, Only Much Louder (OML), Graphic India, and a wholly owned online influencer network, FLUENCE.
Since CA Media’s investment, Endemol India has transformed itself from being principally a non-scripted television content production company to one that is producing content across multiple screens including TV, films and digital. Today, OML is India’s premier music, live events and youth media company, with music festival brands such as NH7. While Graphic India is establishing its position as one of India's leading character entertainment companies, FLUENCE has already become India’s leading online influencer network, connecting celebrities, consumers and brands to create exciting media properties that can be monetised across various consumer facing digital platforms.
“Given what Rajesh has accomplished with CA Media in India, I am confident in his abilities to take on this expanded regional role for CA Media throughout Asia, we look forward to the contributions he will make,” said CEO CA Media Paul Aiello.
Chairman of The Chernin Group Peter Chernin noted, “As we move into our next phase of growth, it is critical to have a structure that supports our operations and continued expansion plans in Asia. Rajesh’s new expanded role in the region will help the group achieve this objective.”
“Moving from a country role to a region profile is both exciting as well as challenging given the diversity of the key Asian markets and our unique portfolio of assets. I look forward to the challenge ahead,” Kamat said.
Kamat will assume his new role and responsibilities in Singapore starting April 2014.
CA Media was founded in partnership with Paul Aiello in November 2010 with a mandate to build, manage and operate media, entertainment and technology businesses throughout Asia. CA Media is building a regional footprint primarily focused on the region’s dynamic growth markets including India, Indonesia and China.
