Media industry veteran Varun Kohli has been officially reappointed as the Director and Group CEO of Bharat Express, marking a significant leadership development for the news network as it aims to sharpen its focus on sustainable growth and expand its footprint in India’s highly competitive news broadcasting space.
The return of Kohli is viewed by the channel as a reaffirmation of its commitment to visionary leadership and strategic growth. According to a press release from Bharat Express, his reappointment is expected to steer the network into its next phase of expansion while reinforcing its identity within the industry.
Kohli is a seasoned media professional with over three decades of experience. He first joined Bharat Express in January 2023 as CEO and Director, playing a central and foundational role in the channel’s successful launch. During this initial tenure, he was instrumental in shaping the channel’s editorial and business strategies, aligning teams, and building its essential operational framework. His leadership is widely credited with laying the foundation for the channel’s brand identity, driving revenue growth, and boosting audience engagement.
Following his initial departure from Bharat Express, Kohli served as the COO at Times Network for over a year, where he led key operational and strategic initiatives. His extensive career includes leadership positions at some of the country’s leading media organizations, such as ITV Network, Deccan Chronicle Holdings, Mogae Media, Network18, Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd., HT Media, and Amar Ujala Prakashan. Kohli is renowned in the industry for his expertise in successfully launching and turning around media brands and for his ability to build high-performance teams.
Upendrra Rai, CMD & Editor-in-Chief of Bharat Express, warmly welcomed Kohli back, emphasizing his critical role during the channel’s inception. Rai stated, “We are delighted to welcome Varun Kohli back to Bharat Express. During his first innings, Varun played a foundational role in successfully launching the channel and positioning Bharat Express as a credible voice in Indian news media.”
He further expressed strong confidence in the veteran leader: “His strategic foresight and leadership were instrumental in building the core team, and establishing a strong operational framework. With his return, we are confident that his deep industry experience and visionary approach will help us accelerate our growth and take the channel to new heights.”
Kohli’s re-entry is seen as a pivotal step for Bharat Express as the organization seeks to intensify its focus on achieving sustainable growth, building audience trust, and fostering innovation in the rapidly evolving media landscape.
Key Highlights:
- Varun Kohli has returned to Bharat Express as its Director and Group CEO.
- He is a seasoned media professional with over three decades of experience and previously held the CEO post at Bharat Express starting in January 2023.
- His reappointment is expected to accelerate the network’s next phase of expansion, reinforce its identity, and drive sustainable growth.
- Upendrra Rai, CMD & Editor-in-Chief, praised Kohli’s foundational role in the channel’s launch and expressed confidence in his strategic vision to take the channel to “new heights.”