Apr 2022 – Jun 2024 · 2 yrs 2 mos · Mumbai, Maharashtra, India · Hybrid

• Formulate a comprehensive growth strategy for mobile gaming and 5G applications. Pioneer a successful launch of three distinctive mobile gaming products tailored for hyper-casual, casual, and enterprise users. Collaborate with product teams to design an innovative product roadmap and create distinct positioning in sync with Value prop and Product Market Fit.
• Achieved global scalability, overseeing the expansion of launched products from inception to distribution across more than 100 operators worldwide. Truly building the future of social cloud gaming!
• Established analytical dashboards and negotiated key agreements to boost revenue and reduce operational costs.
• Streamlined financial operations and improved monthly and annual closing process timelines by 50%.
• Consolidated various entities by overseeing restructuring exercises and initiated forex hedging for risk management. Also filed an Advance Pricing application to manage Transfer pricing assessments efficiently

Mar 2019 – Apr 2022 · 3 yrs 1 mo · On-site

Apr 2011 – Apr 2022 · 11 yrs · On-site

• Reliance Broadcast Network is a leading media company of Reliance ADAG Group with presence in :
• (1) Radio Broadcast - 92.7 Big FM, 59 stations, one of India's biggest private FM radio network
• (2) TV Broadcast (8 Channels)
• Hindi GEC - Big Magic
• Regional GEC - Big Ganga
• International JV with CBS (US No. 1 broadcaster) - Big CBS Prime, Love, Spark, Spark Punjabi (2011-2013)
• International JV with RTL (Europe No. 1 broadcaster) - Big RTL Thrill (2011-2014)
• Business News Channel - Bloomberg India TV, joint venture with Bloomberg (2011-2014)
• (3) TV & Film production, Post-production
• (4) International TV Production (Georgeville Television),
• (5) OOH, Events/IP & Activations and Digital Radio.
• (6) Swing.Live - a Vertical Video App based on Music
• Senior leadership role which involves overseeing all the above companies, businesses, and divisions within the Reliance ADAG entertainment footprint
• I headed the functions of Finance and accounts, Corporate Finance (including Fundraising - Debt and equity), Investor Relations and communications, Business Strategy, New Business Development, Legal, Secretarial, Regulatory and compliance, Commercial, Credit, and operations across the Reliance ADAG Media & Entertainment cluster.
• Also heading overall Revenue, Digital Marketing and Digital transformation projects
• Exited TV Business for $ 100 mn
• Radio Business Exitd at $ 300 Mn (deal closed)

Nov 2006 – Apr 2011 · 4 yrs 5 mos · Mumbai, Maharashtra, India · On-site

• Senior Leadership role wherein I am responsible for Strategic Planning, Business Development, conceptualizing and formulating detailed business plans for the Group's diversification including entertainment foray
• I head the Finance, Legal, Secretarial, Procurement, Investor Relations & Compliance and Corporate IT functions
• I am also responsible for formulating and executing a Capital market strategy for the Entertainment vertical and effectively use all available leveraging opportunities for funding the needs of film production & content acquisition by a good mix of Debt/Equity raised through financial institutions/PE players
• Reporting to the Board on Capex, Risk Management, Compliance & Governance, Financial Performance & Internal Audit
• Spearheading negotiations for Content Acquisition, Co Production of Films
• Vetting Legal Agreements & contributing in drafting a detailed Standard agreement for sale/purchase of various rights & film production agreements
• Formulating Compliance checklists concerning various statutes applicable to a subsidiary of a listed company
• Managing Legal Litigation and actions for IP protection/copyright infringement/piracy
• Leadership role in driving ERP/SAP implementation, Application Improvements and designing an effective reporting and accounting system
• Also responsible for identifying opportunities and incubating new businesses. Currently setting up a business for digital delivery of content to all 3 screens viz Mobile, TV, Laptop. Business would involve fund raising of $100m +.
• Also responsible fot Finding alternative uses for Optical Media Assets and other diversification, etc

Jan 2000 – Nov 2006 · 6 yrs 10 mos · Mumbai, Maharashtra, India · On-site

• A senior leadership role, reporting directly to the CFO and working closely with CEO and senior Management from Sony Pictures LA
• Key responsibilities & accomplishments :
• Part of the core team responsible for identifying new opportunities (organic and non-organic) to increase shareholder wealth. Exploring various options to structure transactions in the most tax-efficient manner. Arranging short-term & long-term funding to facilitate the transaction. Conducting due diligence to verify assumptions & financials of target entities
• In the long career stint of close to 7 years, I was directly involved in
• 1) Bidding for Cricket Rights (ICC, BCCI, IPL, etc),
• 2) Acquisition of Channels ( Sab TV, Ten Sports & Regional Channels)
• 3) Launch of New Channels (Max, AXN, PIX, Aath, etc)
• 4) JVs & Alliances (SET-Discovery JV, MOU with DTH operators, etc)
• 5) Content Acquisition including large format shows and Cricket Licenses
• 6) Evaluating New Businesses (Teleshopping, Lottery etc)
• 7) Formulating Business plan for raising PE or Sony funding
• 8) Business Structuring including Tax planning to derive max benefits from double tax avoidance treaties
• 9) Building systems, controls and reporting for IPO readiness
• Responsible for formulating long range, short range & annual business plans and budgets for each business area.
• Fund Management & Cash forecasting including Treasury operations which required short term bank financing options like Bill Discounting, AR Financing, etc
• Successful Implementation of SAP, Hyperion and Dashboards
• Setting up best practices & a robust risk management framework including SOX compliance and capex/expense authorizations
• Formulating & implementing internationally acceptable accounting policies (US GAAP) & disclosures
• Was always regarded as the 'Top Performer' and was awarded with various accolades every year.
• Raised $ 200 Mn from US Based PE group Capital International, valuing the company at $2.5 Bn

Apr 1998 – Jan 2000 · 1 yr 9 mos · Mumbai, Maharashtra, India · On-site

• A senior leadership role reporting directly to the Chief Financial & Compliance Officer.
• Key responsibilities & accomplishments :
• Successful Implementation of 'Sun Systems' Financial Accounting package together with 'Cognos- Impromtu' as the Reporting tool
• Responsible for the entire gamut of Finance & Accounts with respect to the Asset Management Company and the Trustee Company.
• Responsible for Compliance & SEBI/Regulatory reporting
• Fund Management & Cash forecasting including investment of the AMC surplus as per the Investment charter
• Budgeting including long range planning/preparation of a Business Plan for the Mutual Fund business to be presented to the shareholders
• Detailed Micro budgeting of the Distribution strategies
• Co-ordinating the Statutory/Internal/Compliance Audits
• Setting up best practices & a robust risk management framework to deal with expense authorisation, payments, dealer incentives, brokerages, etc
• Formulating & implementing internationally acceptable accounting policies & disclosures
• Was regarded as the 'Top Performer' and was promoted to become the youngest AVP in the company

May 1996 – Apr 1998 · 1 yr 11 mos · Mumbai, Maharashtra, India · On-site

• S.R. Batliboi & Co. represents Ernst & Young International in India - one of the Big 4 Audit firms in the world.
• I have handled Statutory and internal Audits of Banks, Financial Institutions, Mutual Funds, etc, under the astute leadership of the then Partner, Mr. Viraf Mehta.
• Key clients include SBI Mutual Fund, ABN Amro Bank, Times Bank, including its sale to HDFC Bank, SHCI, DSP Merril Lynch Mutual Fund, Morgan Stanley Mutual Fund, etc.
• I have also handled due diligence assignments in the BFSI space
• Have been trained in the Risk-based Audit methodology and international best practices in Audit documentation
• I lead the internal audit assignment at SBI Mutual Fund. The Audit Committee highly appreciated the recommendations, and the firm was reappointed as the Internal Auditor for additional schemes.

Apr 1993 – Apr 1996 · 3 yrs · Mumbai, Maharashtra, India · On-site

• Khandelwal Jain & Co. is a leading audit firm based in Mumbai with regional offices nationwide. It specializes in auditing leading Banks and Financial Institutions apart from some premier Pharmaceutical and FMCG companies.
• As a Trainee, I worked on the IDBI, LIC, SBI, Godrej group, and Kopran Pharmaceuticals audits.
• Also handled Tax Audits and tax Returns for Trusts, Schools, and Hospitals and formulated 'Tax saving plans' for HNIs & HUFs