Deadline: Sony Pictures Networks India Boss NP Singh Stepping Down After 25 Years

Story from Deadline:

NP Singh, the long-serving leader of Sony’s networks business in India, is stepping down from the C-suite.

In an email seen by Deadline, he announced he is planning to step down as CEO and Managing Director of Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) after 25 years with the company. “Having reached many significant milestones with our team, I am now ready to focus on social change and shift from operations to advisory ones,” he wrote.

He will remain in post as his successor is sought, with Singh writing that SPNI had begun “a structured succession planning process” and that he hoped there would be “exciting news to share in the near future. Finding the right fit is the top priority.”

“I understand there will be speculation during this time, so I urge everybody to rely on our official updates,” he added. “We are committed to sharing timely and transparent information through our established channels and will communicate any definitive updates directly.”

The news comes just months after Sony’s plan to merge its TV, film and streaming operations with ZEE Entertainment Enterprises collapsed at the eleventh hour. Both sides said closing conditions were not satisfied and are now seeking financial recompense from the other.

The $10B merger would have brought together the two companies’ linear TV networks, digital assets including streamers SonyLIV and ZEE5 Global, production operations and program libraries. Sony was planning on a cash injection and would have had a majority share stake of close to 51%.

In the meantime, Disney and Reliance are moving ahead with their plan to form a joint media operation in India, with Reliance already consolidating the shares it didn’t already own in Viacom18 ahead of the new operation’s formation.