Chennai: The Hindu Group Publishing Private Limited has initiated a planned leadership transition in its revenue function, with long-serving Chief Revenue Officer Suresh Balakrishna set to retire at the end of July 2026. As part of this succession plan, senior industry leader Sundar Kondur assumed responsibilities for the CRO role on January 5, 2026.
The transition, announced internally by L V Navaneeth, Chief Executive Officer of The Hindu Group Publishing Private Limited, is designed to ensure continuity and momentum across the Group’s revenue operations. Kondur and Balakrishna will work closely over the coming months, enabling a smooth handover ahead of Balakrishna’s retirement.
Balakrishna’s tenure as Chief Revenue Officer has been marked by steady leadership during a period of significant change in the media and advertising landscape. Under his stewardship, the Group’s revenue function navigated shifts in advertiser expectations, platform diversification, and evolving audience engagement models. While the company has indicated that a formal appreciation of Balakrishna’s contributions will follow closer to his retirement, senior leadership underscored that his role remains active through the transition period.
Kondur brings nearly three decades of media industry experience to the role, having held senior leadership positions across prominent publications including The Times of India, Vijay Karnataka, and Midday. Notably, this marks his second stint with The Hindu Group, where he previously served in a senior ad sales leadership role. A Chennai native, Kondur has often spoken of his long-standing association with the brand, having grown up reading The Hindu.
Commenting on the transition, Balakrishna welcomed Kondur’s appointment, citing his deep understanding of the media business, people-first leadership approach, and ability to balance creativity with commercial rigour. The collaboration period, he noted, would help ensure stability and a strong future for the Group’s revenue operations.
With Kondur stepping into the CRO role ahead of Balakrishna’s July 2026 retirement, The Hindu Group is positioning itself for continuity at the top of its commercial leadership, even as it adapts to a rapidly evolving media and marketing environment.
