Disney UTV Media Networks MD MK Anand puts in his papers

MK Anand, the managing director (MD) of Disney UTV Media Networks, has put in his papers, reports Exchange4Media. While the report does not have an official confirmation from Anand, according to the article, the news has been confirmed by highly placed industry sources.

We tried contacting Anand for an official response, but did not receive a response at the time of publishing this article. Details like what's next for Anand, or who will replace him at the company, are not available as of now. Channels that are part of Disney UTV Media Networks include Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, UTV Stars, UTV Movies, UTV Action, UTV World Movies, Hungama and Bindass.

Anand has had an over four-year stint with the company, and had joined it as CEO of UTV Global Broadcasting in October 2009. He was later (in February 2012) made the MD of Disney UTV Media Networks, post Disney's acquisition of the company in the same year. Prior to joining UTV, Anand was VP of BCCL's Zoom Entertainment Network (a Bollywood entertainment channel).

Other exits

October 2013: Disney announced that Ronnie Screwvala, MD of Disney UTV, was stepping down from the position on June 30, 2014. Siddharth Roy Kapur, currently MD of Disney UTV's studio's business, will take over the company's India operations from January 1, 2014.

April 2013: Vishal Gondal, MD of the digital arm of Disney UTV, put in his papers. Gondal, who is also the founder of Indiagames, the country's largest digital gaming firm (which was acquired by UTV and is now part of Walt Disney), had decided to leave the company to pursue entrepreneurship. Sameer Ganapathy, who was earlier the executive director, movie channels & channel distribution and media networks, at Disney UTV, had taken over as head of Disney UTV's digital arm.

August 2012:  Walt Disney Company consolidated all its digital media properties across platforms and content under a new entity in India called Disney UTV Digital, which was co-headed by Gondal and Samir Bangara. But within a few weeks, Bangara left the firm.

(Edited by Joby Puthuparampil Johnson)