Industry Titans Navigate Convergence: Varghese to Helm Madison, Shetty Leads JioStar Revenue Amidst Digital Evolution

The Indian media and entertainment sector is witnessing a significant leadership realignment with Ajit Varghese stepping into the pivotal role of Partner and Group CEO at Madison, while Mahesh Shetty ascends to Head of Revenue, Entertainment, at JioStar. These strategic appointments signal a recalibration of focus for both entities as the industry accelerates its shift towards integrated, data-driven solutions.

Ajit Varghese, bringing a rich legacy from his tenures at Madison, WPP Media (Maxus and Wavemaker), ShareChat, and most recently as JioStar's Head of Revenue – Entertainment & International, assumes leadership at Madison, one of India's enduring independent media agencies. His mandate is clear: propel Madison into its next growth phase, emphasizing innovation, agility, and the delivery of measurable business outcomes for its diverse brand portfolio. This move underscores Madison's commitment to adapting its established prowess to the demands of a rapidly digitizing advertising landscape.

With Varghese's appointment, industry veteran Vikram Sakhuja, who previously served as Madison's Group CEO, transitions to Executive Director. Sakhuja's new role will focus strategically on organizational capability from New Delhi, a critical function as agencies navigate talent acquisition, technological integration, and the evolving skill sets required for modern media planning and buying. Both Varghese and Sakhuja’s shared past as global heads of Maxus (now Wavemaker) highlights a deep understanding of scale and international best practices now converging within Madison's strategic framework.

Concurrently, JioStar has elevated Mahesh Shetty to Head of Revenue, Entertainment, tasking him with spearheading the company's unified entertainment monetisation strategy across its vast television, digital, and international platforms. Shetty's experience, spanning over two decades and including roles at FMCG giant PepsiCo and media powerhouses like Radio Mirchi and Viacom18, equips him to navigate the complexities of content monetization in an era defined by content fragmentation and evolving consumption habits. His appointment is critical for JioStar as it seeks to harmonize advertising revenues across linear and non-linear channels.

These leadership transitions reflect a broader industry imperative: the need for agile, forward-thinking executives capable of bridging traditional media practices with emergent digital ecosystems. As advertising spends continue to diversify and consumer attention fragments across platforms, the ability to offer integrated, outcomes-focused solutions becomes paramount. Varghese's equity stake at Madison and Shetty's expanded mandate at JioStar exemplify a strategic pivot towards long-term value creation in an increasingly competitive and technologically driven media economy.

The convergence of television and digital, fueled by India's burgeoning internet penetration and smart device adoption, demands leadership that can foresee and capitalize on shifts in audience behavior and advertiser needs. These appointments are poised to influence the strategic direction of both Madison and JioStar, potentially reshaping competitive dynamics in the Indian advertising and content monetization spheres for the foreseeable future.