Zee Media appoints Raktim Das as CEO to lead digital transformation

Zee Media Corporation Limited has appointed seasoned media strategist Raktim Das as its new Chief Executive Officer, marking a pivotal moment in the network’s bid to accelerate its digital transformation and regain leadership in the competitive news media sector. Das, who brings over 20 years of experience across broadcast, digital, and print media, is expected to steer Zee Media into its next phase of growth, focusing on revenue diversification, digital innovation, and integrated content strategies.

Das’s appointment signals a strategic inflection point for Zee Media, which has been navigating the shifting dynamics of television, digital, and OTT media. Known for his expertise in brand reinvention, platform expansion, and content-led business transformation, Das is tasked with executing a vision that will position Zee Media as a future-first integrated news powerhouse.

This is a return to familiar territory for Das, who played a pivotal role in revitalising Zee Business between 2008 and 2010, transforming it into a leading financial news brand. His comeback is seen as a clear indication of Zee Media's confidence in his ability to lead the network through its next evolution, particularly as the boundaries between traditional broadcast and digital platforms continue to blur.

Before joining Zee Media, Das was Chief Growth Officer – Digital & Broadcasting at TV9 Network, where he was instrumental in one of the most successful growth phases in recent Indian news media history. He expanded TV9's digital and broadcast reach and launched Studio9, a branded content unit that unlocked new revenue streams. His work at TV9 demonstrated a unique combination of operational acumen and creative vision, reimagining content formats, monetisation models, and audience engagement strategies for a multi-platform audience.

Das’s career has spanned several leading media brands, including Network18, the India Today Group, NewsX, and The Times of India. His time at the India Today Group, where he scaled multiple global media brands in India, showcased his ability to blend editorial sensibility with market foresight. His diverse background in print, broadcast, and digital media uniquely positions him to lead Zee Media as it embraces a rapidly changing media ecosystem.

While Zee Media is already a dominant force in national and regional television, the company has faced pressure to intensify its push into digital-native innovations. Beyond simply moving TV content online, Zee Media must reimagine content experiences, monetisation strategies, and audience engagement frameworks that resonate with younger, digital-native audiences, including Gen Z, Gen Alpha, and the next wave of internet users in Bharat.

Das is expected to bring a new approach to Zee Media, blending credibility with cultural relevance, legacy with data-driven insights, and journalism with interactivity. His track record suggests a readiness to rethink not just content, but the very structure and business logic behind media operations. With global trends such as branded content, OTT distribution, multilingual content, and creator economy integrations driving the future of media, Zee Media’s decision to appoint Das signals its intention to lead, not follow, the disruption shaping the industry.