Uday Shankar | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Uday Shankar in a conference | |
| Born | 16 September 1962 |
| Alma mater | Patahi High School, New Delhi Times School of Journalism |
| Occupation(s) | President, The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific Chairman, Star India Chairman, The Walt Disney Company India |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Employer | The Walt Disney Company |
| Awards | Best CEO at Forbes India Leadership Award 2015 |
Uday Shankar (born 16 September 1962) is an Indian media executive and former journalist.[1] As of 2021, he was the President of The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific, and chairman of Star India and The Walt Disney Company India.
Uday Shankar was born on 16 September 1962 in Bihar. His father was a civil engineer by profession and wanted to see his son as a civil servant. However, he chose to study the liberal arts, much to disappointment of his father. He studied the sciences for his board examination. Shankar got his early education in Bihar. He moved to Delhi to pursue post-graduate studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University and then did his M. Phil. in economic history at Jawaharlal Nehru University. His M.Phil. thesis dealt with the transformation of Bihar into a colonial economy by the British in the late 18th - early 19th century. [2] He tried for the Civil Services Examination conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and passed the preliminary and main rounds; he then enrolled at Times School of Journalism in Delhi and earned a diploma in journalism.[citation needed]
Uday Shankar started his career as a political correspondent with The Times of India at Patna. After a brief stint with Times of India He came back to Delhi and worked for environmental magazine Down to Earth.[citation needed]
Uday Shankar began his career in the TV-News industry
TV as a news producer and rose rapidly. From he moved to Home TV, and finally as its chief executive officer (CEO).[citation needed]
Later[when?], he was appointed as chairman and CEO of Star India to oversee its entire broadcasting operations.[citation needed]
On 5 December 2017, Shankar was appointed as president of 21st Century Fox for Asia. The new role would oversee Fox's television and online video platform business across the region, and the President of Fox Networks Group Asia would report to Shankar.[3]
On 13 December 2018, The Walt Disney Company announced that Shankar would lead Disney's Asia Pacific region and be chairman of Disney India after the acquisition of 21st Century Fox closes.[4] On 1 April 2019, Shankar, as president Disney Asia Pacific, announced the restructuring of the complete entity of Star India and Disney.[5]
On 8 October 2020, he has stepped down from his current role of President - APAC, The Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer & International and Chairman Star & Disney India, he will be transitioning out by 31 December 2020.[6]
He also serves as the Vice President of FICCI. Earlier, he served with the same as the President of the M&E (Media & Entertainment) sector.[7]