Sun TV chief executive Tony D'Silva to step down

Sun Television (Sun TV)’s chief executive officer Tony D’Silva is set to step down from his post. His last day in his present capacity would be July 30, said a senior company official.

D’Silva has been the face of Sun TV’s direct-to-home (DTH) business.

Sun Group Chairman and Managing Director Kalanithi Maran and D’Silva were not available for comment. However, a senior official from the group confirmed the development, saying, “He has retired from the group and plans to relocate to Mumbai, where his family stays.”

D’Silva joined the group as chief operating officer of its DTH business Sun Direct in September 2007. Under him, the business rose to Rs 333 one (as on March 31). Recently, the company’s management had said the company had 7.6 million paid DTH subscribers.

In April 2010, D’Silva took over as the group chief executive, overseeing the group’s entire business portfolio, including the television network, radio channels, print products, the DTH business and airline business SpiceJet.

Before joining Sun Direct, D’Silva headed Star India’s distribution business. Earlier, he had served as chief executive of Modi Entertainment Network and Zee Network’s head of international operations. He had also had stints with tobacco major Godfrey Phillips and consumer product company Rickett & Coleman.