Pocket FM has elevated Lalit Gangwar to the role of Chief Operating Officer, entrusting him with leading the company’s global audio business operations as it sharpens its international expansion strategy.

According to a report by The Economic Times, the move comes at a crucial stage for Pocket FM as it looks to strengthen its operational framework and build a more scalable, predictable growth model across markets.

A founding member of the team, Lalit Gangwar has been closely associated with the company’s growth journey from its early days. He played a key role in building Pocket FM’s initial growth and marketing playbook in India, helping the platform scale rapidly to over 150 million users within its first year and establishing a strong foothold in the category.

He later led the company’s expansion into the United States, where he was instrumental in setting up teams, defining strategy, and driving growth from the ground up. Under his leadership, the US business scaled significantly, reinforcing Pocket FM’s ability to replicate its model across international markets.

In his new role as COO, Gangwar will oversee end-to-end global operations, including market expansion, growth strategy, monetisation, and execution. His mandate will also include building stronger systems, processes, and talent pipelines to support the next phase of the company’s growth.

Commenting on the elevation, Rohan Nayak, Co-founder and CEO of Pocket FM, said Gangwar has been central to the company’s journey and has consistently demonstrated a strong ability to combine execution with long-term vision. He added that the leadership move reflects the company’s focus on nurturing talent from within.

Gangwar, in his statement, highlighted the company’s core belief in the power of storytelling to transcend borders, adding that his focus will remain on scaling global markets, investing in AI-led storytelling, and strengthening monetisation strategies.

With this leadership transition, Pocket FM is looking to deepen its global footprint while continuing to build a sustainable and innovation-led audio content ecosystem.