Mumbai: The Board of Directors of The Hindu Group Publishing Private Limited (THGPPL) has unanimously appointed N. Murali as Chairman for a term of three years. He succeeds Dr. Nirmala Lakshman, who stepped down as Chairperson at the Board meeting held on June 18, 2026, upon nearing the completion of her three-year tenure.
The appointment follows a unanimous recommendation by the Board’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee, chaired by Krishna Srinivasan, Senior Advocate, recognising Murali’s extensive industry experience and leadership credentials at a pivotal time for the news media and professional journalism landscape.
With more than 56 years of experience across management, business, and financial functions in the newspaper industry, Murali brings deep institutional knowledge and long-standing association with The Hindu Group. After completing his education in Chennai and qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, he joined the family business in 1969. Over the years, he served in several leadership roles including General Manager in 1977, Joint Managing Director in 1995, and later as Managing Director of Kasturi & Sons Limited in 2006. He subsequently went on to serve as Chairman of Kasturi & Sons Limited, the holding company of The Hindu Group publications.
Murali has also played an active role across industry bodies and media institutions over the decades. His leadership positions have included President of the Indian Newspaper Society (INS), Chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulations, Chairman of the National Readership Studies Council, Chairman of the Advertising Standards Council of India, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Press Institute of India–RIND.
Internationally, he was elected as the first Board Member from South Asia of IFRA, the global media publishing association based in Germany, and later served as a Board Member of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN), Paris. He currently serves as a Trustee of the Media Development Foundation, which administers the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), and is also the President of The Music Academy, Madras.
The Board placed on record its appreciation for Dr. Nirmala Lakshman’s contributions to the Group and acknowledged her leadership in guiding board deliberations and organisational direction during her tenure.
Board members and employees expressed confidence that Murali’s industry experience, combined with his understanding of a rapidly evolving media environment, will help guide THGPPL through the next phase of growth while continuing to uphold the values of independent and professional journalism.
