Iyer, who joined the channel in May 2002, was part of the business and new bureau - strategising story ideas, field reporting, administration and human resources (HR) and anchoring news bulletins. Iyer used to report to managing editor Raminder Singh who joined the channel in March 2002.

Iyer, who started his career with production house Nimbus and Doordarshan's business programming team, has been involved with the conceptualisation of business programmes such as CEO Speak on INMumbai. This programme, a chat show with corporate head honchos, is telecast on the local cable channel on Mondays/Wednesdays at 10 pm (with repeats on Tuesday/Thursdays at 9:30 am and Wednesday/Friday at 6pm).

While speaking to indiantelevision.com, Iyer says: "I have got some lucrative offers in the media, advertising and broadcast industry. I haven't finalised anything as yet. I feel that there is nothing more that I can contribute to the channel which has undergone rapid transformation over the last year or so. In the post-conditional access era, the channel will require more investments in terms of money, equipment and environment to make progress."

Sources say that Lalatendu Mishra (earlier with the business bureau of The Asian Age and with Hinduja's portal forindia.com) and Mani D'Mello (with INCablenet) are the prime contenders to replace Iyer.