Uday Shankar, president of Walt Disney Company APAC and chairman of Star & Disney India, will step down from his posts, the company announced on Thursday. The resignations will be effective from December 31, said Rebecca Campbell, the chairperson of Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer and International segment. Before his departure, Shankar will look for his successor.
“I want to thank Uday for his leadership and dedication to our APAC business,” said Campbell. “With the successful launch of Disney+ throughout the region, he has helped put The Walt Disney Company in a commanding position in this dynamic and incredibly strategic part of the world.”
Shankar said he would want to mentor a new generation of entrepreneurs now. “I have always believed in the power of creativity and cutting-edge technology to create a better world and consider myself incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to do so at Star, 21CF and now at The Walt Disney Company,” he added.
Over the last decade, Shankar has played a role in shaping the media and entertainment sector in India. He was the president of 21st Century Fox for Asia and served as the chief executive officer and editor of Star News, which was the first 24-hour news channel in the country. He was also the editor and news director at TV Today Group, where he supervised the launch of Aaj Tak in 2000 and Headlines Today, in 2003.
Shankar is currently the senior vice president of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and next in line to take over as its president.
