Uday Shankar becomes first M&E executive to be elected as FICCI president

MUMBAI: Uday Shankar, the outgoing chairman of Star & Disney India and president of The Walt Disney Company, Asia Pacific, is the new president elect of FICCI for the year 2020-21.

He will succeed Sangita Reddy, current president of FICCI, and joint MD, Apollo Hospitals Group during FICCI’s 93rd AGM next week.

With this, Shankar will become the first media and entertainment executive in India to lead a national industry chamber such as FICCI.


Shankar, who will be leaving Disney by end of this year, has been heading the company’s direct-to-consumer business in over 30 countries.

In addition to his leadership at Star & Disney India, Shankar has played a key role in shaping the growth trajectory of the media and entertainment sector in India, to benefit industry stakeholders as well as consumers.

He has been at the forefront of landmark initiatives in television broadcasting, such as self-regulation of content and digitisation of the broadcasting sector.

He has earlier been the President of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) and the Chairman of FICCI’s Media and Entertainment Committee.

A former journalist, Shankar was the CEO and editor of the then Star News, before joining Star India in 2006.

He has also been the Editor and News Director at TV Today Group, where he spearheaded the launch of Aaj Tak in 2000 and Headlines Today in 2003.

He holds an MPhil in Economic History from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi.