Karan
Abhishek
Singh
25+ years building, transforming and leading consumer-facing businesses across Media, FMCG and Telecom — at board and P&L level. Former CEO at Zee Media and Network18. NDA-trained leader. Trusted advisor for institutional turnarounds, revenue growth and digital transformation.
A Career Built on
Strategic Vision
NMIMS, NDA
Karan Abhishek Singh is a strong cross-industry leader who has built, transformed and led consumer-facing businesses across Media, FMCG and Telecom — at board and P&L level — for over two decades. With a leadership foundation rooted in the National Defence Academy and sharpened across India's most demanding commercial environments, he is uniquely equipped to drive institutional turnarounds, integrate TV–digital ecosystems, and scale multi-region businesses.
As CEO of Zee Media, Karan repositioned flagship Zee News from #11 to Top 4, delivered consecutive profitable quarters after two years of losses, and launched India's first broadcast deepfake verification system. At Network18, he led a portfolio of seven news channels and India's leading Hindi news platform. Under his strategic stewardship, News18 India climbed from the fourth position to claim the coveted number one spot in the Hindi TV News genre, building revenues to ₹350 Cr+ and building India's first integrated TV-always, digital-first newsroom architecture.
Before his media leadership roles, Karan held senior positions at some of India's most iconic consumer brands — PepsiCo, Nokia, Godrej Sara Lee, and Hindustan Unilever — where he honed his expertise in sales strategy, market expansion, and P&L leadership. At Star India, he scaled North Branch revenues from ~₹675 Cr to ₹1,200+ Cr within three years — one of the fastest regional revenue ramps in the network's history.
25 Years of Leadership
A career defined by strategic growth, industry transformation, and the relentless pursuit of excellence across India's most competitive sectors.
Chief Executive Officer
Zee Media Corporation Ltd. (ZMCL)
- ▸Repositioned flagship Zee News from #11 to Top 4 channel through content reset, audience strategy and distribution realignment — within 18 months
- ▸Delivered consecutive profitable quarters after two years of losses via disciplined cost optimisation and margin recovery
- ▸Achieved 80%+ market share for Zee Business through brand reinvigoration and competitive repositioning
- ▸Launched India's first broadcast deepfake verification system through the Zee News × Neural Defend partnership
- ▸Pioneered new digital revenue streams (influencer marketing, affiliate, astro) contributing ~15% incremental digital top-line
CEO – Hindi News (TV & Digital)
Network18 Media & Investments Ltd.
- ▸Elevated News18 India to the #1 position in the Hindi News genre through strategic programming, anchor branding and superior distribution strategy
- ▸Built one of the most successful IP revenue builds to take News18 Hindi revenues to ₹350 Cr+
- ▸Conceptualised and executed India's first integrated TV-always, digital-first newsroom architecture across national and regional channels
- ▸Launched News18 JKLH, completing Network18's footprint across the Hindi heartland
- ▸Managed ratings, revenue and profitability across 7 channels and the News18 digital platform
CEO – Regional Languages
Network18 Media & Investments Ltd.
- ▸Led a portfolio of 8 regional language channels across South, West and East India
- ▸Delivered ratings improvements in 7 of 8 markets
- ▸Managed full P&L across diverse geographies at a time of intense competitive disruption
EVP / SVP / Sales Director
Star India (now Disney Star)
- ▸Scaled Star TV North Branch revenues from ~₹675 Cr to ₹1,200+ Cr within three years — one of the fastest regional revenue ramps in the network's history
- ▸Created the first Brand Solutions vertical within the GEC category, establishing a new monetisation model for entertainment advertising
- ▸Led agency partnerships and enterprise accounts nationally with a team of ~200 members
Vice President – Premium & New Products
PepsiCo India
- ▸Delivered 35% YoY revenue growth while doubling numeric distribution across the premium non-carbonated portfolio
- ▸Owned the full P&L and GTM strategy for PepsiCo's premium and new-products vertical
Program Manager (Category Head) – Smartphones / Channel Development Manager
Nokia India Private Limited
- ▸Managed the smartphones category and drove product initiatives for Nokia India
- ▸Oversaw go-to-market strategy for smartphone product lines
General Manager, North / DGM Trade Marketing / Area Manager
Godrej Sara Lee Ltd.
- ▸Youngest General Manager in Godrej Sara Lee's history
- ▸Led sales and customer service operations at a national level across multiple roles
- ▸Built and managed high-performing sales teams across regions
Area Sales Manager
Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (HUL)
- ▸Managed sales operations across the region for HUL
- ▸Drove distribution expansion and market share growth
Territory Manager
GE Countrywide
- ▸Began professional career as Territory Manager
- ▸Managed territory-level sales and customer acquisition
Cadet
National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla
- ▸Foundational leadership training at India's premier tri-services institution
- ▸NDA-trained leadership core underpins all subsequent professional leadership
Executive Development Programmes
How I Can Help
Your Business
Bringing 25+ years of C-suite experience to help organizations navigate complex challenges and unlock their full growth potential.
Institutional Turnaround & Transformation
Two successive CEO mandates with measurable, public-domain turnarounds. Repositioned Zee News from #11 to Top 4 and elevated News18 India to #1 in Hindi News — within defined timelines.
Large P&L Ownership
Multiple ₹100–3200 Cr P&Ls across FMCG, Telecom and Media. Delivered consecutive profitable quarters at Zee Media after two years of losses through disciplined cost optimisation.
Distribution & Go-to-Market
FMCG field-force to broadcast distribution at national scale. Scaled Star TV North Branch revenues from ~₹675 Cr to ₹1,200+ Cr — one of the fastest regional revenue ramps in the network's history.
Revenue Diversification & IP Creation
Built IPs, brand solutions, affiliate and digital revenue verticals. Pioneered influencer marketing, affiliate and astro revenue streams contributing ~15% incremental digital top-line at ZMCL.
Technology & Innovation Leadership
Deepfake AI verification, Magic Wall election technology, integrated digital newsrooms. Launched India's first broadcast deepfake detection system through Zee News × Neural Defend partnership.
High-Performance Team Building
Led teams of 3,400+. Youngest GM in Godrej Sara Lee's history. NDA-trained leadership core. Built and scaled high-performing sales, editorial and digital teams across geographies.
Media & Content Strategy
End-to-end content strategy for news and entertainment channels across Hindi and regional language markets. Conceptualised India's first integrated TV-always, digital-first newsroom architecture.
Stakeholder & Regulatory Navigation
Board, advertiser, agency, government and industry interfaces. Deep experience managing complex multi-stakeholder environments across publicly listed media companies.
Ready to leverage 25 years of industry expertise for your organization?
Schedule a ConsultationPress & News
Coverage across India's leading media and industry publications spanning appointments, interviews, and industry recognition.
Karan Abhishek Singh joins Network18 as CEO-Languages
Prior to joining Network18, Singh was the Executive Vice President & Head, Ad Sales in Star India. An alumnus of NMIMS Mumbai, Singh started his career in 2001.
There is no template on how to handle the COVID-19 situation: Karan Abhishek Singh
Karan Abhishek Singh discusses how Network18 navigated the COVID-19 crisis, emphasising agility, digital adoption, and empowering teams to work nimbly in unprecedented times.
Sensationalism can only fetch short-term benefits: Karan Abhishek Singh
"Viewers are extremely intelligent. Sensationalism can give you short-term benefits but not long-term loyalty. We don't subscribe to that philosophy."
Karan Abhishek Singh joins Zee Media as CEO
ZMCL announces the appointment of Karan Abhishek Singh as CEO, bringing two decades of media leadership and a proven track record of revenue transformation.
Karan Abhishek Singh joins ZMCL as Chief Executive Officer
ZMCL names Karan Abhishek Singh as CEO with a mandate to reposition Zee News and drive profitability across the network's news portfolio.
Karan Abhishek Singh Appointed as CEO of Zee Media Corporation Limited
From 2019 to 2021, he served as CEO of Languages at Network18. Before that, he held various senior roles in Ad Sales at Star India from 2013 to 2018.
Bloomberg Executive Profile - CEO, Zee Media Corporation Ltd.
Karan Abhishek Singh carries an active executive profile on Bloomberg Markets as CEO of Zee Media Corporation Ltd., placing him alongside publicly tracked business leaders.
India's First Broadcast Deepfake Verification System - Zee News x Neural Defend
Under Karan's leadership, Zee News partnered with Neural Defend to launch India's first AI-powered deepfake detection system for broadcast media across 18 channels.
Jury Member - e4m Revenue Leaders 40 Under 40 (2024)
Karan served as a juror for exchange4media's prestigious Revenue Leaders 40 Under 40 Awards, recognising India's top revenue champions across media and marketing.
News18 India Tops BARC Exit Poll & Ratings Charts
During Karan's tenure as CEO, News18 India's election exit poll coverage topped BARC ratings, validating his content-led strategy and technological edge in live broadcast journalism.
10 articles across all categories
On Stage &
In the Room
Karan brings the unfiltered perspective of a practitioner - not a theorist. His talks are grounded in real P&L decisions, real turnarounds, and real lessons from 25 years at the sharp end of Indian business.
Signature Topics
Institutional Turnaround & Business Transformation
How to diagnose a stalled organisation, reset its strategic direction, and execute a credible turnaround - drawing from two successive CEO mandates at Network18 and Zee Media.
The Future of Media: TV, Digital & AI Convergence
India's media landscape is being redrawn by OTT, connected TV, AI-generated content, and deepfake threats. A strategic outlook for broadcasters, advertisers, and investors.
Revenue Growth in a Disrupted Market
Building sustainable, diversified revenue in an era of audience fragmentation - from brand solutions and IP creation to affiliate, influencer, and digital monetisation models.
Leadership Under Pressure: Building High-Performance Teams
NDA-rooted leadership principles applied to corporate environments - how to build, motivate, and retain high-performance teams through ambiguity, disruption, and rapid growth.
P&L Ownership for Senior Leaders
A practitioner's guide to full P&L accountability - cost architecture, margin recovery, revenue diversification, and the discipline of profitable growth across large organisations.
India's Consumer Economy: Trends, Insights & Opportunities
25 years of frontline experience across FMCG, Telecom, and Media - a cross-sector perspective on India's evolving consumer behaviour, regional dynamics, and growth vectors.
Engagement Formats
Keynote Address
High-impact keynote for industry conferences, leadership summits, and annual conclaves.
Executive Masterclass
Deep-dive workshop for C-suite and senior management teams on strategy, P&L, and transformation.
Fireside Chat / Panel
Moderated conversation or panel discussion at media, marketing, and business forums.
Corporate Workshop
Interactive workshop for leadership teams - revenue strategy, team building, or digital transformation.
Bring a Practitioner's Voice
to Your Stage
Available for keynotes, panel discussions, executive workshops, and corporate masterclasses. Reach out via LinkedIn to discuss your event, audience, and objectives.
On Stage & In Action
A visual journey across 25 years — from boardrooms and broadcast studios to cultural icons, sports legends, and political leaders.
Let's Build Something Great
Whether you're looking for strategic advisory, board-level consulting, or a thought partner to navigate complex business challenges — Karan brings 25+ years of C-suite experience to the table.
Karan personally reviews all advisory inquiries. Reach out via LinkedIn or email to discuss an engagement.
Advisory Engagements
Available for the following types of engagements: