Partho Dasgupta steps down from BARC; Sunil Lulla new CEO

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MUMBAI: The world’s largest Television Audience measurement company Tuesday announced a change in leadership.

Partho Dasgupta BARC India
Partho Dasgupta

Partho Dasgupta, the first chief executive officer of BARC India, a joint industry company between broadcasters, advertisers and agencies, Tuesday announced his plans to relinquish his position and move on. In a statement, Dasgupta said: “It has been a tremendous journey to set up the worlds largest audience measurement company with the least investment and in the quickest time. Having set it up, expanding the panel and introducing new insight products for news, sports, music and OOH genres, I thought it's time to move on and do new things. I have enjoyed setting up new businesses and brands and turning them around both in media and consumer space and it's time to explore new domains.” 

He added: “I would like to thank board members and techcomm members, specially Punit (Goenka, CEO, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd and chairman BARC India) and Shashi (Sinha, CEO, IPG Mediabrands India) for the tremendous support and guidance.”

Sunil Lulla - BARC India
Sunil Lulla

Industry veteran Sunil Lulla, with over 35 years of media and marketing experience, whose last assignment was as Group CEO of Balaji Telefilms Ltd, is being appointed as chief executive officer of BARC. “I am delighted to lead BARC as its grows its footprint, in coverage, scope and services, in the fast growing and rapidly evolving TV and Digital Industry. Things are changing fast and Audience measurement has to keep pace with all these. I thank Partho for bringing the company to where it is and wish him a great time ahead.”

Goenka said: “I welcome Sunil to BARC. He has been a board member before and is familiar. I would also like to thank Partho for steering BARC through tough times, building a great team and establishing the technology architecture that BARC is proud of. Winner of several awards, BARC India is now considered a benchmark by the global measurement community. We wish him the best for his career ahead.” 

Speaking on the transition, Goenka added: “Partho and Sunil are working with the teams for a smooth transition in the weeks to come.”