Siddharth Roy Kapur to take over as MD, The Walt Disney Co. India, in January 2014

The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) announced Thursday that Siddharth Roy Kapur, MD of Disney UTV’s studio business, will take over as MD, TWDC India, in January 2014. He will succeed UTV founder and current Disney UTV MD Ronnie Screwvala, who will assist in the transition upto 30 June 2014, a Walt Disney statement said.

“It’s been a fantastic seven-year working relationship with Disney, first as a co- shareholder, then when Disney held a majority stake in UTV, and since February 2012 as managing director of Disney UTV India,” said Screwvala.

Andy Bird, chairman, Walt Disney International, added, "In 2012 when we acquired UTV, Ronnie had a clear mandate to merge two organisations, build a single team and lay the strategic direction for a diversified media and entertainment company that would be part of the growing India growth story. When he passes on the baton in June 2014, almost two-and-half years since the acquisition, he will leave the Company in a great place strategically and with a strong leadership team.”

On Roy Kapur’s appointment as MD, Bird said, “Sid’s innate understanding of the Indian viewer, his ability to leverage those insights in business, coupled with his experience and expertise in fast-moving consumer goods businesses, television and in building India's leading movie studio made him the natural choice for the role. I look forward to working with Sid to take Disney UTV to its next level of growth in the years to come.”

“Disney is one of the most admired media brands in the world and I see this as a great opportunity to work together with the incredible team we have at Disney UTV in India, to take our content and our brands to the next level of growth in one of the most dynamic media markets in the world," said Roy Kapur.

Roy Kapur, who started his career at P&G, worked with Star TV in Hong Kong, Dubai and Mumbai before moving to UTV (now Disney UTV). He was a member of the core team that launched kids channel Hungama TV, which Disney bought in 2006. He is credited with working closely with Screwvala to build UTV Motion Pictures, which he has headed since 2008, the statement added.