IFFLA & Korn/Ferry Announces 25 Most Influential South Asians in U.S. Entertainment

KORN/FERRY INTERNATIONAL

IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE

7TH ANNUAL INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF LOS ANGELES

ANNOUNCES

25 MOST INFLUENTIAL SOUTH ASIANS

IN THE ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA INDUSTRY
BASED IN THE UNITED STATES

HOLLYWOOD, CA, March 25, 2009– Korn/Ferry International, the world’s largest and leading executive search firm, today announced its listing of the U.S. 25 Most Influential South Asian Executives in the Entertainment and Media Industry.  The list was created to honor senior executives of South Asian background who have excelled in various roles in the entertainment business.

In announcing the release of the list, Bill Simon, Senior Client Partner and Managing Director of Korn/Ferry International’s Global Media & Entertainment Practice, said, “We have all heard of the magnitude of the Indian entertainment sector, phenomenal success of Indian themed content with a main stream audience, and expansion of Indian companies into Hollywood.  What we are celebrating with this list, however, is the remarkable story of talented business executives who have moved through the ranks and now occupy the top rungs of the corporations that control the entertainment sector.”  Simon, who has personally assisted both Indian and global companies in securing senior corporate talent, worked closely with his colleagues in India to develop and refine the list.  “While we could have added 25 more names to the list, we believe that those who made the cut represent the very best in their respective areas of focus and expertise,” Simon explained.

The individuals on the list will be honored at a Gala Dinner during the 7th Annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) hosted by Globosat Entertainment LLC.  Delivering the keynote address at the dinner is Ashok Amritraj, Chairman and CEO of Hyde Park Entertainment, and one of the most successful producers in Hollywood.  Amritraj has produced over 100 films for the global audience.

Christina Marouda, Executive Director of IFFLA, observed that this year was particularly significant because of the recent success of Danny Boyle’s SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE at the Oscars and high profile corporate acquisitions by Indian companies such as Dreamworks by Mumbai based Reliance Entertainment.  “We are delighted to be able to put the spotlight on executives of South Asian origin who now manage and influence broad areas of the traditional entertainment business,” Marouda noted.

The List:

Movie Mogul: Ashok Amritraj
Chairman and CEO
Hyde Park Entertainment

Finance: Bedi A. Singh
President, Finance and Administration &
Chief Financial Officer
MGM

Strategist: Salil Mehta
President of Business Operations, Strategy and Development
NBC Universal

Television: Roma Khanna
President, Global Networks and Digital Initiatives
NBC Universal International

Cable: Krishan Bhatia
Senior Vice President,
Strategy & Development
Comcast Interactive

Sports: Bobby Sharma
President & General Counsel, NBA Development League
National Basketball Association

Interactive: Bhavesh Patel
Vice President, Interactive Media
Fox Cable Networks

Digital: Salil Dalvi
Senior Vice President, Digital Distribution
NBC Universal

Digital Rights and Security: Rajan Samtani
Senior Director, Business Development
Digimarc Corporation

Technology: Kumar Mahadeva,
Founder and Former Chairman
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation

Online: Ramu Yalamanchi
Founder and CEO
hi5 Networks, Inc.

Industry Organizations: Noel de Souza
Studio Liaison
Hollywood Foreign Press Association

Marketer: Rohan Oza
Senior Vice President of Marketing
Glaceau

News and International Affairs: Fareed Zakaria
Editor
Newsweek International

Publishing: Aparna Pande
Vice President and General Manager, U.S. Consumer Magazines
Disney Publishing Worldwide

Mobile: Manish Jha
President and Chief Executive Officer
envIO’s

Music: Nusrat Durrani
Senior Vice President and General Manager
MTV World

Advertising: Chris D’Rozario
Executive Creative Editor
JWT

Media Communications: Latha Sundaram
Senior Vice President & Global Account Director
Starcom Worldwide

Brands: Deepak Masand
Senior Vice President & Global Head, Innovation and Commercial Marketing
VISA International

Public Relations: Rohit Bhargava
Senior Vice President, Marketing
Ogilvy 360 Digital

Distribution, Television: Superna Kalle
Senior Vice President
Sony Pictures Television International

Distribution, Film: Deborah Tellis
Senior Vice President, International Distribution
Summit Entertainment

Post Production: Syed Ahmed
Vice President
Deluxe Laboratories, North America

Attorney and Strategist: Arnold Peter
Partner
Raskin Peter Rubin & Simon, LLP and RPRS Media Partners, LLC