Devraj Sanyal has been named Managing Director of Universal Music India, which has its headquarters in Mumbai.
The appointment was announced today by Vico Antippas, President, Nordic, Central & Eastern Europe, South Africa & India, Universal Music Group International.
Sanyal, 36, will assume responsibility for all operational aspects of Universal Music India – including its interests in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Sanyal succeeds Rajat Kakar, Managing Director of Universal Music India for the past eight years.
Universal Music’s domestic Indian roster includes acts such as Hard Kaur, Mohit Chauhan, Raaghav, Bombay Rockers, Punjabi MC & Josh.
Sanyal joins Universal Music after seven years at Percept, one of India’s leading entertainment, media and communications groups. Most recently, he was Group CEO of Percept Sports & Entertainment, which includes Music, Events, Television & Intellectual properties, Branded content & entertainment and talent management divisions. He now also moves to the board of Percept Limited as an independent director.
Sanyal co-founded with Percept the prominent Asian electronic music festival, Sunburn. In addition, he was instrumental in the formation of Desi Hits, the premier global south Asian entertainment platform, serving as its CEO from 2009-2010.
Vico Antippas said: “India’s growth and evolution as an entertainment market and source of creativity is tremendously exciting, especially for innovative thinkers and bold entrepreneurs. Devraj is just such a person, and we’re looking forward to a new era for the company under his leadership.”
Devraj Sanyal commented, “For the past two decades, I have run successful organisations and businesses, and also been a serious musician. I now intend to use this combined knowledge and understanding to take Universal Music India to its next level. I am here to ‘change the game’.”Music Business Worldwide
