Hires & Promotions: SPNI, Netflix, Kia, Bacardi

Sony Pictures Networks India appoints Ritesh Khosla as General Counsel

Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has appointed Ritesh Khosla as the new General Counsel, effective September 1, 2024. He succeeds Ashok Nambissan.

He began his career as a practising lawyer in a law firm before joining SPNI, where he steadily advanced, serving as Deputy General Counsel for the past six years. With over two decades of experience, his expertise includes mergers and acquisitions (M&A), joint ventures (JVs), regulatory frameworks, compliance, corporate governance, complex litigation, and intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and enforcement.

In his new role, Khosla will oversee SPNI's corporate relations, legal and regulatory affairs, secretarial and standards & practices functions. He will provide risks and legal guidance, manage the company's legal risks, and serve as the company's Ombudsperson. He will report directly to the Managing Director & CEO of Sony Pictures Networks India.

Aside from his core duties, he will lead initiatives to enhance SPNI's compliance framework, especially in digital and intellectual property rights. He will also strengthen the company's legal infrastructure in international markets and oversee SPNI's corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, aligning them with legal and ethical standards.

Khosla is known for his strategic thinking and decisive legal skills, which he brings to the table with a commercial mindset for problem-solving and risk mitigation, stated the company.

Reflecting on his appointment, Khosla says, "I am deeply honoured to become General Counsel at SPNI. My journey here has been incredibly enriching, and I am eager to continue working with our talented team. This role offers a unique opportunity to build on the strong legal foundation established under Ashok Nambissan's leadership. I am committed to upholding the highest standards of legal and ethical conduct and advancing SPNI's mission to deliver exceptional content and experiences to our audiences."

Netflix India ropes in Mahima Kaul as Director- Public policy

Mahima Kaul has joined Netflix to lead public policy in India. She shared the news in a LinkedIn post.

Kaul expresses "Absolutely delighted to have joined Netflix today to lead public policy in India - after considerable time spent in social media/apps, I am really excited about the challenges and opportunities ahead for OTTs and streaming services, and the broader (structural) policy work ahead of us."

Before joining Netflix, she worked as the director of public policy for Bumble in the APAC region.

Kaul began her career as a researcher at the Center for Policy Research and went on to work with Orion Publishing, The Indian Express, NewsX, the Digital Empowerment Foundation, the Observer Research Foundation, and Twitter.

At Bumble, she led the company's efforts in Australia on dating app safety regulations, including Voluntary Codes for Dating Apps. She also helped shape policy positions on AI-enabled harm, 'safety by design,' and ensured compliance across different jurisdictions while representing Bumble in the media.

As the head of public policy and Government partnerships for India at Twitter, Kaul managed the company's relationships with policymakers, elected officials, government agencies, and NGOs in India, and directed policy programs in these areas.

Kia India elevates Joonsu Cho as Chief Sales Officer

Kia India has promoted Joonsu Cho to the Chief Sales Officer. Cho was elevated to the CSO role from being the company's Regional Manager (Eastern Region) for the company. In his new role, Joonsu Cho will be responsible for driving the company's sales initiatives, enhancing operational efficiencies, and steering its long-term growth plans.

Joonsu Cho brings 32 years of experience in the automotive industry. He has held leadership positions globally, including Kia headquarters in Australia, the UK, and Europe. Before his tenure in India, he held the role of CEO of Kia Australia, playing a pivotal role in driving the company's growth and success in the country.

Commenting on his appointment, Cho shares, “I am excited to step into the role of Chief Sales Officer at Kia India. Our commitment to delivering innovative products and fostering sustainable growth is stronger than ever. As we expand our product line, I will focus on enhancing our sales strategies, strengthening our dealer network, and ensuring we continue delivering innovative products that resonate with Indian consumers. Together, we will drive forward and continue shaping a bright future for our company and customers.”

Kia India continues to strengthen its leadership team, reaffirming its commitment to delivering cutting-edge products and sustainable solutions to its customers.

Bacardi India appoints Monojit Mukherjee as Director of External Affairs for India and Neighbouring Countries

Bacardi India has appointed Monojit Mukherjee as Director of External Affairs for India and Neighbouring Countries. With an illustrious career spanning 25 years, Mukherjee brings a wealth of experience in navigating regulatory landscapes and fostering strategic partnerships across central and state governments and industry bodies.

In his latest role at Bacardi, Mukherjee will spearhead Bacardi’s external affairs strategy, leading engagement with local, state governments and central government to create responsible, consumer-centric, government initiatives, while ensuring full compliance and a commitment to always doing the right thing. Mukherjeeis a highly networked leader, with a strong compliance understanding of the regulatory regime at both central and state levels, as well as working with alcohol associations such as ISWAI, SWA, DISCUS, Spirits Europe and more.

His journey at Bacardi follows his impactful tenure as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at United Breweries (Heineken India), where he drove business continuity, and regulatory challenges, enabled price increases across several states and responsible consumption initiatives. He also spearheaded ease-of-doing-business initiatives in coordination with several key central government ministries including, the Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT) Invest India & Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Prior to this, Monojit Mukherjee served as the general manager – external affairs at Pernod Ricard India, where he played a key role in driving the company's growth while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Previously, he held strategic roles at JSW Steel Limited and GMR Group, contributing to major infrastructure projects like Delhi and Hyderabad International Airports in the country.

Joining India’s leadership team from the company’s Gurgaon office, Mukherjee will report directly to Vinay Golikeri, Managing Director, Bacardi India & Neighboring Countries, who says, “We are pleased to welcome Monojit Mukherjee to the Bacardi leadership team. His extensive experience and understanding of the regulatory landscape will be invaluable to us as we navigate the evolving market dynamics of India and neighbouring countries. We look forward to his leadership in driving our external affairs strategy and fostering a regulatory environment that is beneficial for our consumers, our industry, and our business."

Speaking about his new role, Mukherjee comments, “I am thrilled to join Bacardi’s accomplished leadership team as we embark on a journey of historic growth. I look forward to collaborating with our talented team and industry stakeholders to drive impactful initiatives that guide us towards continued success in the spirits industry.”