The Adani Group announced the appointment of Sanjay Pugalia as the head of corporate brand custodian effective May 26, 2025, Exchange4media reported.
In this new role, Pugalia will report directly to Pranav Adani. Along with being head of CBC, Pugalia will continue his ongoing role of CEO of AMG Media Networks, the media wing of billionaire Gautam Adani’s corporate empire.
Meanwhile, India Today News Director Rahul Kanwal formally took charge as NDTV's Chief Executive Officer and Editor-in-Chief, the channel announced through an official statement on Tuesday. In his new roles, Kanwal will manage the entire business and editorial operations of NDTV.
Pugalia has held top or senior roles at NDTV, CNBC Awaaz, Star News, Zee News, Aaj Tak, Business Standard, and Navbharat Times and led digital media outlet The Quint in his career spanning four decades.
While renowned for his liberal editorial stance and leadership roles at prominent media outlets like CNBC Awaaz and The Quint, Pugalia took a surprising turn in 2021 by joining the Adani Group as the head of AMG Media Networks. He played a pivotal role in the group's acquisition of NDTV, a channel long regarded as a bastion of independent journalism.
Following the takeover, NDTV experienced a significant shift, including the departure of several key journalists and an increased focus on covering Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is known to have close ties with the Adani Group.
This transition has sparked discussions about Pugalia's motivations, with some former colleagues expressing surprise given his previous critical stance toward the government. Others suggest that his appointment may indicate a strategic move by the Adani Group to reshape its media narrative. Read our report on Pugalia’s role in Adani’s media venture here.
If you’re reading this story, you’re not seeing a single advertisement. That’s because Newslaundry powers ad-free journalism that’s truly in public interest. Support our work and subscribe today.
Newslaundry is a reader-supported, ad-free, independent news outlet based out of New Delhi. Support their journalism, here.
