(6 January 2010 5:30 pm)

MUMBAI: Network18 has announced a senior management re-alignment of its web, mobile and digital convergence businesses.

The company has moved Lakshmi Narasimhan, who was heading Infomedia18, to head Web18 as CEO. Narsimhan will replace Surya Mantha, who has been given the charge of convergence initiatives at Network18.

Mantha will be re-designated as executive director, Convergence, Network18. His mandate, the company said in a statement, will be to unlock value by “leveraging the digital and community building opportunities” across the group’s TV and print brands.

Straddling across TV18, IBN18 and Infomedia18 media assets, the role will further focus on new convergence initiatives for the group.

Web18 runs web portals including Moneycontrol.com, In.com, Ibnlive.com and a host of web based services and applications such as bookmyshow and markets on mobile.

Network18 group CEO Haresh Chawla said, “With this re-alignment, Network18 aims to establish independent focus on its fast-expanding web and mobile business and at the same time ensure that all its offline media assets are leveraged digitally.”