Vikramaditya Chandra steps down as NDTV Group CEO, wishes to return to 'full time journalism'

Media firm NDTV announced a top level management change on Thursday with Group CEO Vikramaditya Chandra stepping down with immediate effect and Executive Vice-Chairperson KVL Narayan Rao taking over the role. "The Board of Directors of New Delhi Television has approved the decision of Mr. Vikramaditya Chandra to step down from the position of Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Executive Director of NDTV with immediate effect," the company said in a statement.

Rao will be the Group CEO in addition to his responsibilities as Executive Vice Chairperson, it added. Chandra was appointed as Group CEO in 2011 for a term of three years which was further extended by another two years, with the specific mandate to strengthen the company's diversification into digital areas while retaining NDTV's position as the most respected media brand, the statement added. "He has expressed the wish to return to full time journalism within NDTV and focus on the TV shows of the Group," the company said.

He has been a key member of NDTV since 1994, in a large number of roles - reporter, anchor, one of the founding members of NDTV.com and CEO. Rao also has been associated with the company for nearly 22 years in various capacities, including Group CEO and has been a key factor in the creation of NDTV.