MUMBAI: In a development that has taken many within the cult music franchise by surprise, MTV Networks Asia executive vice-president and MTV India managing director Alex Kuruvilla has resigned, it was internally announced today.

The announcement was made by Frank Brown, president of MTV Networks Asia Pacific, during the company's weekly Friday "town hall" meeting. Kuruvilla's last official working day at MTV will be 30 June.

It is not clear at this point of time where exactly he is headed.

Meanwhile, a company statement issued a short while after Indiantelevision.com broke the news of Kuruvilla's departure said a replacement would be announced shortly.

Says Kuruvilla, "What a ride! Ive had the opportunity to be part of it all during my time here from launching exciting new channels, to bringing reality television to India and changing the idea of what a music channel is expected to be. Im especially proud of MTVs undisputed leadership position in the Indian entertainment scenario, the impact its had on Indian youth in the country and our pro-social work, particularly in the area of HIV / AIDS. I will miss Team MTVN.

Brown lauded Kuruvilla contribution to the network's development in India, saying, "Were very sorry to see Alex go. Hes been with this company through challenging as well as triumphant times and has had a major role in making MTV Networks India the powerhouse of talent and ideas that it is today. However, Alex will continue to work with us on a few business projects for some time to come."

It was during his term that Viacom kids channel Nickelodeon, which was later christened for Indian Kids as Nick, and the international music and lifestyle channel Vh1, which was brought to India in 2004, marked their entry.

An advertising professional with a passion for music and entertainment, Kuruvilla joined the company in 1999 from the erstwhile Hindustan Thompson Associates (now JWT).