STAR to rope in Vijay Singh as new COO

Former Sony Music CEO and Tata group company Tetley Tea’s managing director, Vijay Singh is being roped in as STAR India’s next COO.

A report on IndianTelevision has pointed out that News Corp president and COO Peter Chernin, Rupert Murdoch’s right hand man, will be flying to STAR India to strengthen its new reformed team.

The main agenda of Chernin’s visit would appear to be to reinforce India’s importance, as well as to make clear how the new executive structure in Hong Kong and India (of which Singh is a key element) will mesh with News Corp’s overall growth plans.

Singh, who will complete serving out his notice at Tetley by the month-end, is not taking up his new assignment immediately however. Indications are that he will join STAR in the latter half of March. Singh will reportedly be taking up his new position just ahead of the departure of STAR Entertainment India CEO Sameer Nair, whose last working day as head of India’s lead broadcaster is 26th March.

So as it stands now, Paul Aiello has taken the position of STAR India CEO. Vijay Singh will take over the role of STAR India COO.