MUMBAI: Network18 Publishing has elevated EVP- Sales Mukhtar Qureshi to COO for Business Directories Division. The Business Directories Division portfolio includes multi-city editions of Yellow Pages business directories, Machine Tool Guide, Indian Exporters Guide, Construction and Interior Design Guide, Industries State Guide and Motor Pumps and Valves directories.

Network18 Publishing CEO Sandeep Khosla said, "The Business Directories Division, especially its yellow pages stable, is core to our growth plans for Network18 Publishing. As we scale up and expand our suite of products and services across touch points, Mukhtar?s proven track record and unparalleled experience in this space will be critical for us. I look forward to working closely with him as we further strengthen our leadership in the business directories space."

Qureshi added, "At the Business Directories Division, we?ll continue to be focused on fulfilling the growing aspirations of the Indian SME. Our widespread presence under the Yellow Pages umbrella and deep customer relationships provides us with an enormous opportunity to diversify our offerings and innovate through integrated media solutions. It?s been an exciting journey so far and I hope to build further on it going forward."

Qureshi brings with him over 21 years of experience in sales and operations. He had joined Infomedia18 in 2005 as deputy general manager. He was later elevated to Vice president - sales in April 2008 and then to EVP-sales in October 2008. Prior to joining Infomedia18, he had also worked with Tata Press and Tata Infomedia.

Infomedia18?s publishing business, recently demerged and consolidated within Network18 under ?Network18 Publishing?, encompasses three divisions of Infomedia18?s publishing business - Business to Consumer (B2C) magazines, Business to Business (B2B) magazines and Business Directories Division.

MUMBAI: Raghav Bahl-promoted Network18 has demerged and consolidated the publishing business of Infomedia18 under ?Network18 Publishing? as per the scheme of demerger approved by the High Court of Delhi in 2011.

The printing press business will continue to remain with Infomedia18.

As per scheme of arrangement, Network18 was to issue and allot to the shareholders of Infomedia18 as on the record date, 7 (Seven) equity shares of Rs 5 each of Network18 for every 50 shares of Rs 10 each of Infomedia18. Meanwhile, shareholders of Infomedia18 will continue to hold their original shareholding in Infomedia18.

With the scheme in place, Network18 Publishing will encompass three divisions of Infomedia18?s publishing business - Business to Consumer (B2C) magazines, Business to Business (B2B) magazines and Business Directories Division (BDD).

In B2C, the titles that will now come under the Network18 Publishing umbrella are Overdrive, Overdrive Hindi, Entrepreneur, Better Photography, Better Photography Hindi, Better Interiors, CHIP, T3, AVMAX. In B2B- Search, Auto Monitor, Modern Machine Tools, Chemical World, Modern Plastics & Polymers, Modern Packaging & Design, Modern Medicare, Modern Pharmaceuticals, Modern Food Processing, Smart Logistics and Aftermarket will be part of Network18 Publishing. Meanwhile in Business Directories- Multi-city editions of Yellow Pages Business Directories, Machine Tool Guide, Indian Exporters Guide, Construction and Interior Design Guide, Industries State Guide and Motor Pumps & Valves directories will be now under Network18 Publishing.

Additionally, Network18 Publishing will also manage production and circulation operations for titles from the Forbes India stable which currently includes Forbes India and Forbes Life India.

Network18 Group CEO B Sai Kumar said, "We believe that the special interest and B2B spaces will be one of the key drivers for publishing in India, both in print and new media. With Network18 Publishing, we?ve aligned our assets to capitalize on this trend both from a community building as well as a commercial perspective. Going forward, as publishing models develop, this alignment will significantly enhance our market proposition."

Sandeep Khosla, who was earlier CEO-Publishing at Infomedia18 will be heading the new devision as its CEO.

Khosla added, "As Network18 Publishing, our growth strategy will evolve in line with an increasingly multi-platform publishing environment. Considering the strong traction of our brands in key consumer and business communities, our focus will be on leveraging this across areas including print, new media, on-ground activation and value-added services. We hope to build on this further by maximising synergies with group platforms and in the process deepen engagement with our audiences and aid monetisation of our brands."

MUMBAI: Cell18 CEO and Network18 group creative director Zubin Driver has quit the company to pursue his interests in theatre, arts and cinema.

Driver will be setting up his own theatre company along with a separate production house for creative content catering to all platforms like TV and films.

Driver has over 22 years of experience in the advertising, theatre and film industry. Being the creative director of Network18 for the last 11 years, he has played a vital role in setting up and running the creative teams for five news channels and History18.

He began his career with Everest Branding Solutions as a copy trainee and later joined O&M as a copywriter. He has also worked with agencies like Madison DMB&B, Lowe-Lintas & Partners and TBWA.

MUMBAI: Former Network18 Group CEO Haresh Chawla will be joining India Value Fund Advisors (IVFA), as India partner.

Chawla will be joining the private equity firm on 1 June. He will be responsible for building and scaling up businesses owned by IVFA across sectors, as well as leading media and entertainment investments at the private equity firm.

IVFA managing partner Vishal Nevatia said, "Haresh brings with him unique experience, having built several world-class brands in the media and entertainment space. He blends professional management with entrepreneurial drive and the combination will be invaluable in helping IVFA scale up and further build our portfolio of businesses."

IVFA controls MBPL, the company which operates FM radio station under the Radio City brand, and Bangalore-based MSO Atria Convergence Technologies. The fund has exited from its two earlier media investments, Shringar Films and DQ Entertainment.

IVFA?s other investments include Meru Cabs, RDC Concrete, InLogistics, Mahindra Hinoday,DM Healthcare and RoboSilicon, amongst others.

On his new role Chawla added, "IVFA is a uniquely positioned firm that not only infuses capital but also the mindset and strategic management thinking, that is required to scale up mid-sized businesses into large professionally-run enterprises. This operating model was particularly appealing to me as a chance to leverage my experience in building up businesses and helping management teams perform to their true potential."

Under Chawla?s leadership, Network18 grew from a single business news channel (CNBC-TV18) and solitary portal (Moneycontrol.com), with revenues of Rs 150 million in 1999, to a diversified media group with revenues in excess of Rs 25 billion in 2011. His previous assignments have all been with start-ups including the HCL Group, where he headed business development for HCL Comnet; ABCL, where he set up the Film Distribution Business, and at the Times of India Group where he launched their music label - Times Music.