Kevin Vaz, Kiran Mani, Sanjog Gupta: Trio leading JioStar’s entertainment, digital, sports

As the highly anticipated merger between Reliance and Disney finally comes to fruition, three distinguished leaders have been entrusted with the responsibility of guiding the newly formed entity into an era of innovation and market disruption.

Kevin Vaz, Kiran Mani and Sanjog Gupta, each with a proven track record in the industry, will lead the charge in redefining the company’s strategy, driving growth, and capitalizing on emerging opportunities in the ever-evolving entertainment landscape.

KEVIN VAZ - CEO, ENTERTAINMENT

A distinguished leader in the Indian media and entertainment industry, with a massive experience spanning two decades, Kevin Vaz has taken charge as CEO-Entertainment in the RIL-Disney joint venture.

Vaz has been the CEO of Broadcast Entertainment at Viacom18 since 2023, overseeing brands such as Colors and MTV. With over a decade of experience in media and entertainment, Vaz previously worked at The Walt Disney Company India, where he played a key role in driving its success across multiple platforms.

Additionally, he has been appointed as the Chairman of FICCI Media & Entertainment Committee in January 2024.

In his stint of over 20 years with Star, Kevin has played an instrumental role in the growth of the network.

He also served as CEO of Regional Entertainment Channels at STAR India from 2018 to 2020. During this tenure, he expanded the network’s regional channels, focusing on tailoring content to meet specific tastes and preferences of audiences across different states.

In 2013, he drove the successful launch of English premium HD offerings with Star Movies Select and Star World Premiere while leading the English cluster of channels.

In 2011, he took on the responsibility to lead the Bengali channel Star Jalsha.

Vaz began his career with The Times Group in 1992.

He holds a Diploma in Business Management from Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies.

KIRAN MANI - CEO, DIGITAL

Kiran Mani, a seasoned business leader with a strong track record in digital innovation, has been appointed as the new CEO-Digital for the Reliance-Disney joint venture.

With a career spanning over two decades, Kiran Mani has established himself as a key figure in the media and technology sectors.

Most recently, he served as the Chief Executive Officer at Viacom18 Media, a role he assumed in November 2023, where he has been instrumental in shaping the company’s digital and content strategies.

Before his leadership at Viacom18, Kiran spent a remarkable 13 years and 8 months at Google, where he held several senior positions, including the General Manager of Android and Google Play for Asia Pacific and Japan.

Apart from his corporate leadership, Kiran is also an angel investor and advisor, having supported a range of startups over the past decade. He has invested in Jeevitam, a platform dedicated to blue-collar livelihoods, and Rapture Innovation Labs, a company focused on high-end, patented headphones made in India.

Kiran has also advised Public Next, a hyper-local news platform, and Simple CRM, a low-code customer engagement platform. Other notable ventures include Onlinesales.ai, a comprehensive shopper marketing platform, and MirrAr, a startup leveraging augmented reality for retail experiences.

Kiran’s role at the Reliance-Disney JV comes at a time when digital and media convergence is accelerating, with a focus on transforming the digital entertainment landscape.

SANJOG GUPTA - CEO, SPORTS

Sanjog Gupta has been appointed as CEO-Sports at the Reliance Industries-Disney joint venture, where he will spearhead the organization’s sports initiatives and strategy.

His new role places him at the forefront of the JV’s ambitious strategy to expand its sports offerings across television and digital platforms.

Sanjog's career at Disney Star spans more than a decade, beginning in 2009 when he joined the company as a Consultant/Producer at Star Movies and BBC World Service Trust. During this time, he produced notable shows, including the "Opening Night" and "Academy Awards 2010 Specials" for Star Movies India, and a 156-episode radio drama series for the BBC World Service Trust, showcasing his versatility across both television and radio.

In 2010, Sanjog transitioned to a key role as AVP for Digital Content and Viewer Engagement Strategy at Star World and Star Movies.

By 2012, he had risen to the position of Vice President and Head of Content Strategy & Development for Life OK, where he was instrumental in the development and launch of 13 successful TV shows, further cementing his reputation as a content strategist.

Between 2015 and 2017, Sanjog took on the role of Senior Vice President, overseeing cricket operations for Star Sports, where he played a pivotal part in managing the broadcaster’s cricket content and rights. His leadership in this period contributed to the significant growth of Star Sports' cricket portfolio, especially around the Indian Premier League (IPL) and international cricket events.

From 2017 to 2020, Sanjog served as the Executive Vice President, leading Sports Content (Production & Programming) across both TV and Digital platforms. In this capacity, he was responsible for overseeing the production and programming strategy for all sports content, ensuring that Star Sports remained a dominant player in India’s sports broadcasting landscape. In 2020, he was appointed as the Head of Sports for the Star TV Network, further solidifying his leadership role in sports media.