HMVL Names Sameer Singh MD of HT Media for Five-Year Term
HMVL has announced the appointment of CEO Sameer Singh as the Managing Director of HT Media Limited for a period of five years starting from March 1, 2026, according to a regulatory disclosure.
Sameer, a graduate of IIM Calcutta, brings more than 30 years of experience in the fields of media, digital platforms, and brand-focused marketing.
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Before joining HT Media, he held the position of Head of North America Global Business Solutions at TikTok/ByteDance, overseeing advertising and sales in the area. Previously, he also managed the Asia-Pacific business in a similar role.
Prior to joining TikTok, Sameer served as the CEO of GroupM India and South Asia, concentrating on developing digital-focused capabilities and content-driven solutions for clientele. His professional background encompasses managerial positions at Google, GSK, Procter & Gamble, and IPG.
During his tenure at Google, he oversaw agency collaborations in India and collaborated with international and US-based customers on digital strategies. At GSK and P&G, he was instrumental in directing advertising expenditures towards online platforms.
The appointment is timely, coinciding with HMVL's third quarter financial report showing a significant decrease in profitability.
The company's net profit dropped to Rs 89 lakh, a stark contrast to the Rs 18 crore recorded in the same period the previous year.
Nevertheless, there was a 7.6 percent increase in revenue from operations to Rs 212 crore during the October-December quarter, a significant rise from Rs 197 crore in the third quarter of FY25. Total income also experienced growth, reaching Rs 236 crore as opposed to Rs 221 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year.
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In the quarter under review, the printing and publishing of newspapers continued to be the primary source of revenue, amounting to Rs 180 crore, whereas the digital business yielded Rs 28 crore.
HMVL has disclosed that its Board of Directors has authorized an investment of potentially up to Rs 16.22 crore in AI Growth Private Limited, a fintech firm specializing in fixed-income investments and debt financing solutions. The funding will involve a combination of equity shares and compulsory convertible preference shares (CCPS) and is projected to wrap up by September 2030.
HMVL stated that this move is in accordance with its plan to venture into high-growth, technology-driven industries selectively, all the while capitalizing on its current media holdings. AI Growth Private Limited runs digital platforms that enable fixed income investment opportunities for retail and institutional investors.
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Additionally, the company offers debt financing solutions to corporations, positioning itself as a significant player in the constantly evolving fintech lending and investment landscape. HMVL announced that the intended investment is focused on creating sustained capital gains and seizing opportunities in the burgeoning fintech industry, which is thriving thanks to India's increasing digital usage and investor enthusiasm for non-traditional financial products.