Uday Shankar joins FICCI leadership as Vice President
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has elected Mr Sandip Somany, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, HSIL Limited as its President for 2018-19, after the conclusion of its 91st Annual General Meeting on December 14-15.
With this coveted industry acknowledgment, Mr Somany will be working closely with Government and business leaders towards spearheading the country’s economic growth and promote inclusiveness. He was previously working as the Senior Vice President, FICCI.
While Ms Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director of the Apollo Hospitals Group has now been elevated as the Senior Vice President of FICCI for 2018-19; Mr Uday Shankar, currently the Chairman and CEO of Star India and President of 21st Century Fox Asia-Pacific (Only Asia), who has recently been appointed Chairman, Star and Disney India, and President of the Walt Disney Company, Asia-Pacific, a role that he will take over after the takeover of 21CF by The Walt Disney takes place, has joined the FICCI leadership as Vice President of the apex industry chamber.
FICCI Vice President, Mr Uday Shankar is the first ever Indian media and entertainment executive to assume the leadership position in a national industry chamber like FICCI, which is also the oldest in the country.
A trendsetter in the media and entertainment industry for over two decades, he played a leadership role in making Star India – one of the largest Media & Entertainment companies in India, reaching over 720 million viewers a month across the country and more than 100 other countries.
Mr Shankar has been a leading voice in the Indian media and broadcasting sector, shaping reforms for the industry and its consumers. As the Chairman of the FICCI Media & Entertainment Committee and former President of the Indian BroadcastingFederation, he has been at the forefront of landmark changes in self-regulation and pushing access for consumers to the digitized distribution.
Mr Shankar entered media as a political journalist with The Times of India and rose to become the CEO and Editor of ‘Star News’ after spearheading the successful launch of country’s first 24-hour Hindi news channel ‘Aaj Tak’ in 2000, and ‘Headlines Today’ in English in 2003, as Editor and News Director of the ‘TV Today’ Group.
He holds an M. Phil in Economic History from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. Mr Shankar is an ardent reader and his knowledge domain transcends from literature to politics, economics and sports.
