Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has appointed media and telecom industry veteran Rasesh Upadhyay as its Deputy Chief Financial Officer, further strengthening its leadership team as the company navigates an increasingly competitive and rapidly evolving media landscape.

Upadhyay will join SPNI on June 22 and officially assume the role of Deputy CFO from July 1, 2026. He succeeds Pramod Nair, who is stepping down after a distinguished tenure of more than 25 years with the broadcaster.

The appointment brings to SPNI a seasoned executive with over two decades of experience spanning finance, strategy, business planning and organisational transformation. Most recently, Upadhyay served as Head of Strategy and Operations in the CEO’s Office at JioStar, where he played a key role in driving enterprise-wide strategic initiatives, governance frameworks and integration programmes.

His arrival comes at a crucial time for the media and entertainment industry, which is witnessing significant changes driven by digital consumption, streaming growth, audience fragmentation and evolving advertising models.

Over the course of his career, Upadhyay has held senior leadership positions at Star India, Etisalat DB and Bharti Airtel. His experience covers financial management, corporate strategy, business performance and operational excellence across media, telecom, sports and entertainment sectors.

At SPNI, Upadhyay will oversee financial strategy, business planning and performance management. In addition, the company’s commercial function will now report into the finance division under his leadership, reflecting a more integrated approach towards financial and commercial decision-making.

The transition also marks the conclusion of a long and successful chapter for Pramod Nair, who has been instrumental in shaping SPNI’s financial operations and supporting the company’s growth through multiple phases of transformation in the broadcasting industry.

As traditional broadcasters continue adapting to changing viewer habits and the rise of digital platforms, financial discipline and strategic agility have become critical business priorities. With Upadhyay’s extensive experience in managing large-scale transformation and growth initiatives, SPNI is looking to further strengthen its operational and financial capabilities for the next phase of growth.

The appointment underscores the company’s focus on building a leadership team equipped to drive sustainable growth while navigating the opportunities and challenges reshaping India’s media and entertainment sector.