BARC India Appoints SPNI’s Gaurav Banerjee As Chairman

Gaurav Banerjee, Managing Director & CEO of Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI), has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India, effective immediately. The announcement was made during BARC India's Board Meeting held on August 1, 2025. He succeeds Shashi Sinha, Executive Chairman of IPG Mediabrands India, who served in the role for over three years.

A veteran of the media and entertainment industry, Banerjee brings more than two decades of experience to the position. In addition to his role at SPNI, he also serves as Vice President of the Indian Broadcasting & Digital Foundation (IBDF), and is a board member of MSM-Worldwide Factual Media Pvt. Ltd. and Bangla Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

Expressing his gratitude on being named Chairman, Banerjee said, “BARC India continues to empower stakeholders across the ecosystem with data-driven decision making. It is a privilege to take on this responsibility at the world’s largest television audience measurement company. A big thank you to Shashi Sinha for his outstanding leadership over the past three years. As we navigate an increasingly convergent media environment, I look forward to further strengthening BARC’s role as a trusted and credible measurement currency for the industry.”

Outgoing Chairman Shashi Sinha reflected on his tenure, stating, “It has been a privilege to work closely with BARC and contribute to its evolution over the years. I am deeply grateful to the BARC team for their collaboration and support. I warmly welcome Gaurav Banerjee and am confident that under his leadership, BARC will continue to innovate and adapt to the industry’s changing needs.”

Nakul Chopra, CEO of BARC India, welcomed the appointment, saying, “We are delighted to have Gaurav Banerjee as our new Chairman. His strategic vision and industry experience will be invaluable as BARC continues to evolve in response to the dynamic broadcast and advertising landscape. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Shashi Sinha for his guidance, which has been crucial in enhancing BARC’s data capabilities and industry trust.”

With this leadership transition, BARC India reaffirms its commitment to delivering robust and transparent audience measurement solutions to the media ecosystem.