Bidding Farewell to Media Veteran Bhaskar Das

Bhaskar Das, a luminary in the media industry with a career spanning four decades, has passed away. He was suffering from cancer and breathed his last on January 15. Das had a distinguished career spanning diverse industries, including media, strategy, education, and digital innovation. Known for his leadership roles and strategic insights, he was dedicated to fostering innovation and growth.

One of the defining chapters of Das’ career was his remarkable 32-year tenure at Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd (BCCL). Serving in various leadership roles, including as President and Board Member from 2005 to 2012, Das played a pivotal role in the company’s growth. Under his leadership, BCCL achieved significant growth, with advertising revenue increasing from INR 1,560 crore to INR 4,200 crore during his six-year stint as President, contributing to 90% of the company’s turnover. His visionary marketing strategies and innovative approach left an indelible mark on the organisation’s operations.

In January 2024, Das assumed the role of Chief Evangelist and Board Member at Silver Star Foundation, based in Mumbai. In this role, he championed the foundation’s mission of creating social impact and provided strategic direction to ensure its initiatives made a meaningful difference. Prior to this, in April 2023, he served as President of the Content Advisory Group in Delhi, leveraging his expertise to guide organisations in crafting innovative and engaging content strategies.
As Chairman of IdeateLabs from July 2022, Das focused on steering the company towards becoming a leader in the digital space. Concurrently, he served as Director of Strategy and Insights at Craving Digital, a role he held since June 2022. His influence extended to the blockchain sector, where he was CEO of Unica Token Pvt Ltd from May 2022 to May 2024.

As Group President and Chief Strategy Officer at Republic TV (January 2019 - May 2022), Das played a pivotal role in shaping the channel’s strategic vision and driving market growth. Based in Mumbai, he guided Republic TV during a crucial phase, aligning its operations with emerging trends in news broadcasting and audience engagement. Before joining Republic TV, Das served as Executive President of DB Corp Ltd. (Dainik Bhaskar) from October 2017 to May 2019. From November 2012 to October 2017, Bhaskar held the role of Group CEO at Zee Media Corporation Limited. Over five years, he spearheaded the transformation of Zee Media, introducing innovative strategies to enhance its content and expand its reach.

His legacy extended beyond the corporate world, as he also made significant contributions to academia. Since September 2012, he had been a Governing Council Member and Mentor for Media & Entertainment and Sports Business at MICA, Ahmedabad. For over 12 years, he mentored countless students and professionals, inspiring them to achieve excellence in their respective fields. He will be remembered as a visionary leader, a mentor, and a lifelong learner whose impact will continue to resonate for generations.