Vivek Malhotra: A leader who blends strategy, creativity and consumer understanding

Some professionals build careers. Others, like Vivek Malhotra, build legacies, of brands, strategies, and ideas that leave a lasting imprint on industries and audiences alike. On his birthday today, it’s the perfect moment to pause and celebrate a journey that has been anything but ordinary.

Currently serving as Group CMO & COO Strategy at India Today Group, Malhotra brings to the role over a decade of leadership at the heart of media and marketing. His career has seen him wear many hats, from steering marketing, digital transformation and consumer revenue at TV Today, to shaping strategies as Group Chief Marketing Officer at India Today Group. Each role has reflected his ability to not just manage change, but to create it.

What sets Malhotra apart is his cross-media vision. He has led initiatives spanning television, print, digital, connected devices, and even innovations in brand experiences. His work has touched every corner of media, from BloombergUTV, where he managed marketing, PR and research, to Star News, where he explored the power of uniting insight generation with consumer application. At CNBC-TV18, he helped shape one of India’s most defined functional boundaries between strategy, revenue and marketing, driving long-term innovation.

A passionate believer in data-driven insight, Malhotra has been part of the Digital Advertising Council at IAMAI, a member of the IRS technical committee, and has contributed to India’s largest consumer research studies. He has also served on the board of the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), and been associated with the Advertising Research Foundation in New York.

His track record is dotted with bold firsts: launching India’s first Connected Devices Stream, introducing initiatives like the Hindustan Times Kala Ghoda Festival and Agenda Aaj Tak, and extending iconic brands like India Today and NewsX across platforms. Whether through sponsorships like IPL, innovations in influencer marketing, or redefining consumer journeys across YouTube, Facebook and emerging digital ecosystems, Vivek has consistently found ways to keep brands ahead of the curve.

But beyond the boardrooms, committees and strategy decks, what shines through is his instinct to constantly reinvent. To not just renew brands, but to refresh memories and experiences for consumers.