New Delhi: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has named Gaurav Banerjee, Managing Director and CEO of Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI), as Chairman of its National Council on Media & Entertainment (M&E) for 2025-26. His appointment comes at a time of transformation for India’s M&E sector, as the industry aligns with global trends while promoting indigenous innovation and inclusive growth.
The announcement is in line with CII’s annual theme, “Accelerating Competitiveness, Globalisation, Inclusivity, Sustainability, Trust,” reflecting its agenda to strengthen the sector through progressive policy frameworks, regulatory reform, skilling, and a renewed focus on “Create in India for the World.”
Leading with Vision and Experience
With more than two decades of industry experience, Banerjee has played a pivotal role in shaping India’s content and broadcast landscape. At SPNI, he has led the company’s digital transformation, driven content innovation, and expanded audience engagement across platforms. He also serves as the Chairman of BARC India, underlining his influence across the media value chain.
“As the world looks to India for creative inspiration and technological leadership, our media and entertainment sector must rise to the occasion,” Banerjee said. “We aim to create an ecosystem rooted in trust, innovation, and opportunity—where policy empowers progress and creativity leads global storytelling.”
Strategic Priorities Under His Chairmanship
Banerjee’s leadership at the CII M&E Council will focus on four key pillars:
-
Policy Advocacy & Regulatory Reform: Working closely with government bodies to streamline regulations, promote fair competition, combat piracy, and safeguard content integrity.
-
Technology-Creativity Convergence: Driving the adoption of emerging technologies like AI, AR/VR, and automation to boost content personalization, production efficiency, and ethical storytelling—all while upholding India’s cultural heritage.
-
Skill Development & Job Creation: Collaborating with institutions such as the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies to launch upskilling initiatives in animation, VFX, and immersive media, preparing the next generation for AI-powered creative roles.
-
Global-Indian Storytelling: Promoting international collaborations and co-productions that showcase Indian narratives on global platforms, backed by technological excellence and creative ambition.
Under Banerjee’s leadership, the Council aims to foster closer partnerships between industry stakeholders, academia, and policymakers to tackle pressing challenges, including monetization models, data privacy, and equitable access to emerging tech. A major thrust will be on crafting regulatory frameworks that encourage innovation without compromising accountability—especially in fast-developing fields like generative AI.
A filmmaker by training, Gaurav Banerjee began his career in journalism at Aaj Tak in 2000. Over the years, he has become one of India’s most respected M&E leaders, known for combining creative vision with business acumen. industry efforts to make India a global hub for media innovation, rooted in trust, talent, and technology.
