Pocket FM has elevated Lalit Gangwar to chief operating officer, marking a key leadership move as the company prepares for its next phase of global expansion. In his new role, Gangwar will oversee end-to-end global operations for the platform’s audio business, including growth, monetisation, execution and market expansion.
The appointment comes at a strategic juncture for Pocket FM as it looks to strengthen its operational framework and build predictable, long-term growth across international markets. From a marketing and growth standpoint, the move reflects a continued emphasis on scaling proven playbooks across geographies while refining execution and performance metrics.
A founding team member, Gangwar has been instrumental in shaping the company’s growth and marketing strategy. He developed Pocket FM’s early growth playbook in India, contributing to the platform scaling to over 150 million users within its first year and establishing a leadership position in the audio storytelling category. His work in building acquisition and engagement frameworks laid the foundation for the brand’s initial market penetration.
He later led the company’s expansion into the United States, where he established operations from the ground up. This included setting up teams, defining go-to-market strategies and driving user growth at scale. The US market expansion demonstrated Pocket FM’s ability to replicate its growth model internationally while adapting to local audience preferences and consumption patterns.
As COO, Gangwar’s mandate will include scaling global markets, enhancing operating discipline and building systems and processes to support sustained growth. This includes strengthening monetisation strategies and investing in scalable infrastructure, both of which are critical for long-term brand and revenue expansion.
Rohan Nayak said, “Lalit has been central to Pocket FM’s journey from the very beginning. He has built our growth engine and scaled our business across markets. At Pocket FM, we strongly believe in growing leaders from within, and Lalit’s journey is a reflection of that. His ability to combine sharp execution with long-term thinking makes him the right leader to run our global audio business as we enter the next phase of growth.”
Lalit Gangwar added, “Pocket FM has always been driven by a simple belief that powerful stories can travel across borders and create meaningful impact. Having been part of this journey from the beginning, I am excited to take on this role and continue building a global business that empowers creators and delivers immersive storytelling experiences to audiences worldwide. Our focus will remain on scaling markets, investing in AI-led storytelling, and strengthening monetisation.”
Pocket FM continues to expand its offerings through new storytelling formats, including AI-powered content and genre diversification. These innovations are supported by a growing creator ecosystem, which plays a central role in driving both content supply and audience engagement.
Overall, the leadership transition underscores Pocket FM’s intent to scale its global footprint through a combination of operational efficiency, marketing-led growth and technology-driven content innovation. The focus on AI-led storytelling and monetisation further aligns with broader industry trends in digital entertainment and content platforms.
