MUMBAI: Star News is still upfront on its restructuring plans for its ad sales functions. And it is from lead Hindi news channel Aaj Tak that the latest recruitment has come. Avinash Pandey, senior manager ad sales at TV Today, joins Star News in "a couple of weeks" and will heading sales in the north and east .

He will be based out of New Delhi and will report in to Star News head of sales Prabal Ganguly. Confirming the development, Ganguly says, "He has a lot of understanding up North. This knowledge would prove critical and significant for our sales operations. We are hoping that his experience at Aaj Tak would help us realise our growth objectives in the region."

Ganguly highlighted the importance of the North and East India region as vital as it contributes more than half of the overall revenues in India.
"As the channel is gearing up to set up a new sales team, we have inducted professionals from diverse backgrounds," he says. Pandey's association with Aaj Tak has been for four years.

Ganguly reports directly to Star News CEO Uday Shankar, and the ad sales division will be functioning as an independent unit and not a part of the Star network.