Pocket FM Elevates Lalit Gangwar To COO To Lead Global Audio Business

Pocket FM has promoted Lalit Gangwar to the role of chief operating officer, tasking him with leading the company’s global audio business across markets, growth, monetisation, and execution.

A founding member of the company, Gangwar played a key role in building Pocket FM’s India growth strategy, helping scale the platform to 150 million users within its first year. He later spearheaded the company’s expansion into the US, where he established local teams and drove market growth.

The leadership move comes as Pocket FM looks to strengthen its operating structure and drive more predictable, long-term growth, particularly in international markets such as the US.

Commenting on his new role, Gangwar said the company will continue to prioritise global expansion, invest in AI-led storytelling, and deepen monetisation efforts.

Pocket FM, which reports over 250 million listeners globally, has been expanding its content formats while investing heavily in AI-powered storytelling tools. The platform also supports a large creator ecosystem, with over 300,000 writers and more than 100,000 audio series.

Financially, the company reported a 68% rise in revenue to Rs 1,768 crore in FY25 and recently said it has crossed an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of Rs 4,167 crore, achieving EBITDA profitability.

Meanwhile, rival Kuku FM posted a nearly threefold increase in revenue to Rs 242 crore in FY25, although its losses widened by 60% to Rs 153 crore.