Profile | Tarun Katial, CEO, ZEE5 India

Tarun Katial is responsible for steering ZEE5, India’s largest ConTech brand, towards gaining an industry leadership position. In just over two years since inception, the platform already hosts 100+ Originals across genres and languages and has seen exponential growth with 100 mn+ downloads (Google Play Store).

Tarun has also been instrumental in conceptualizing ‘HiPi’, India’s first fully home-grown short video platform and launching kids-focused content through ZEE5 Kids in nine languages.

Under his leadership, ZEE5 has won 60+ awards at various credible forums from ‘The Most Impactful Debut Award’ at Pitch Top 50 Brands 2019, ‘OTT Platform of the Year’ at Promax 2020 OTT Digital Marketing & Innovation Awards to ‘India's Most Desired Video Streaming Brand’ by TRA Research.

With a rich experience of over two decades across video streaming, television and radio, Tarun has truly been instrumental in revolutionizing the media and entertainment landscape in India. He has shared impactful insights at various global media and technology forums like IBC, Content London, Paley International Council Summit, to name a few.

Considered one of the most successful executives in the Indian media industry, Katial is also a TEDx speaker, he was recently elected as the Chairman of IAMAI’s Digital Entertainment Committee and was the Chairperson for DMAsia 2019.

Tarun has an established record of accomplishment through popular shows like - KBC - Who wants to be a Millionaire - Lets make a deal India, a slew of daily fiction content at STAR and Indian Idol | Fear Factor | Fame Academy | Ugly Betty at SET. These shows have been in perfect tune with what captivates the Indian consumer.

An MBA-graduate, Tarun began his career with Saatchi & Saatchi, Enterprise Nexus Lowe and Ogilvy & Mather. Pursuant to this, he moved to Star Network and rose to become the Head of Content and Communications across the network in India before moving to Sony Entertainment Television as Business Head. Prior to joining ZEE5, Tarun was the Founder COO-CEO at BIG FM.

He has been voted as NewsCorp Achiever for Asia and included among the best in the ‘India Today 30 on 30’ list. He was also part of the team that won the first Media Gold at Cannes.