Rohit Chadda

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Rohit Chadda
Rohit Chadda.jpg
Rohit Chadda
Born (1982-08-26) 26 August 1982 (age 43)
India
NationalityIndian
Alma mater Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Delhi Technological University
Occupation(s) CEO, Investment Banker, Entrepreneur
TitlePresident & COO - Times Network, CEO - ZEE Digital, Co-founder - foodpanda & Founder - Paylo
Website rohitchadda.com

Rohit Chadda (born 26 August 1982) is an Indian investment banker and entrepreneur, who is the President & COO of Times Network [1] . Previously, CEO of the digital business at Essel Group (Zee Entertainment, Zee Media and DNA), [2] He was the co-founder of online food ordering platform Foodpanda. [3] [4] He is also the founder of omni-channel digital payments platform PayLo. [5] [6] He has been attributed for the turnaround of Zee Digital driving 4x growth in 2 years [7] and bringing Zee's digital business to the second position on ComScore from ninth position making Zee the second largest digital media group in India. [8] [9] [10] . He has been featured among Top Tech CEOs of the decade (2010-2020) in India and was featured among Fortune 40 under 40 in 2015. [11] [12] [13]

Contents

Education and early career

Chadda graduated from Delhi Technological University (formerly Delhi College of Engineering) [14] [15] with a degree in computer engineering and worked as a software engineer for Computer Sciences Corporation. In 2007 he joined Indian Institute of Management Calcutta to do his MBA after which he worked at Merrill Lynch as an investment banker in United Kingdom. He took an internal transfer to India in 2011. [3] [16]

Career

Foodpanda

Chadda began his career in 2012 when he co-founded foodpanda. [17] foodpanda expanded to around 40 countries before being bought by Delivery Hero. [2] Before foodpanda got popular, he joked that he delivered pizza for a living. [17] foodpanda had raised a total investment of over US$300 million till 2015. [18] [19] Chadda in the middle of 2015 stepped down from day-to-day responsibilities at Foodpanda to launch his digital payments startup. [20] Foodpanda was acquired by its global competitor Delivery Hero in 2016. [21]

Paylo

In 2015, he launched a omni-channel digital payments platform PayLo which acquired the in-restaurant payments app Ruplee in March 2016 for an undisclosed sum. [5] [6] [22] PayLo was successful in the wake of demonetisation in India and expanded pan-India before being acquired by Immortal Technologies. [2] Chadda believes that execution is more important than the idea to make a startup successful and the key challenge for experienced professionals to work in a startup environment is to unlearn what they have previously learned. [23] [24] [25] PayLo acquired Ruplee before being itself acquired by Immortal Technologies. [16]

Zee Group

Chadda took over as CEO of digital publishing of Zee Group in May 2019. [26] [27] Since 2017, he had led global product and strategy for Zee Group launching ZEE5, the flagship OTT of Zee Entertainment, across 170+ countries. [14] [27] Since June 2019, Zee Digital, the online arm of the Zee group, has registered the highest growth year-on-year among the top media publishers in India. [28] Times Internet Limited, Network 18 Group, and India Today Group have grown by 45%, 21%, and 22% respectively from June 2020 over June 2019 while Zee Digital witnessed a growth of 123% over the same period. [28] Zee Digital achieved its first milestone in September 2019 by crossing 100 million unique monthly visitors and was ranked 6th in the news and information category on ComScore India rankings at the time. [29] [28] Later in the month of March 2020 it crossed 150 million unique monthly visitors mark moving to 4th position. [30] [28] Further in May 2020 Zee Digital moved to 3rd position by crossing 185 million unique monthly visitors [31] mark before finally ranking 2nd position in June 2020 in the ComScore rankings among all digital media groups in India. [28]

Chadda has led the transformation of the business of Zee Digital by scaling it to over 200 million users from 60 million users making it the second-largest digital media group in India. [9] [10] He attributes the growth from rank 9 to rank 2 in one year to the data and technology driven approach to content and the focus on vernacular languages. [28] During his tenure, Zee Digital launched 8 new brand websites and 3 new languages to expand the product portfolio to 20 brands and 12 languages. [9] During the US elections in November 2020, Zee Digital launched the English global news channel WION through a digital first approach across Asia Pacific, Middle East, UK and North America. [10]

Chadda launched Zee's UGC short video platform HiPi in the midst of the TikTok ban in India. [32] [33] Hipi was first launched within ZEE5 app ecosystem to capitalise on the reach of the OTT platform. [32] [33] After the success of the POC, he launched a standalone app for HiPi. [33] HiPi is a short video platform that provides a complete video creation ecosystem along with news avenues of monetisation to content creators. [33] He plans to use Zee's network reach of 600 million broadcast viewers and 300 million digital users to get creators on HiPi. [33] HiPi launched India's first digital star hunt to allow users to audition for ZEE5 original shows through the short video platform. [34]

Times Group

Chadda took over as President & COO of Times Network in September 2022. [1] Leading the digital transformation of the group [1] Chadda launched 11 new products in 18 months [14] expanding the group's presence to various verticals in the tech business like fintech [35] , health tech [36] , auto tech [37] , OTT [38] [39] [40] , ecommerce [41] and gaming [42] while extending the news vertical into business news [43] , tech news [41] [42] and various vernacular languages. [44] [45] Within 4 months of his stint, in January 2023 he launched the digital platform for ET Now, targetting Gen Z, early jobbers and first time investors and laying the foundation for the fintech expansion for the brand. [46] [35] Since then, the product has expended to Hindi language targetting the larger Indian audience through the launch of ET Now Swadesh [43] and further expanding to ET Now Advisor, a distribution business focussing to upselling of cards, loans etc to consumers by educating them and enabling them to make the right choices [47] . ET Now reached 10 million users within the first 20 days of launch [48] and became the No.1 business news channel on youtube with 200 million views in April and May 2024 [49] .

Expanding to more verticals, he launched AI powered daily health companion Health & Me in the presence of actor & fitness enthusiast Milind Soman. [36] Chadda unveiled the digital platform for Times Drive together with Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari showcasing the AI assisted platform that helps consumers make the right decisions when it comes to their automotive needs [37] . In order to expand the group's presence into tech and gaming, Chadda acquired India's largest and most popular tech magazine Digit along with their digital platforms Digit.in and Skoar.gg in June 2024. [42] Within a year, he was able to turnaround Digit's business with Digit.in becoming the No.1 Tech news platform in India in April 2025 [50] . With a focus on esports and gaming, he launched India's first Inter-college esports championship under the brand of SKOAR College Gaming Championship [51] [52] . Times Network launched it's OTT app Times Play under his leadership [39] . The platform expanded its presence in the US through a partnership with Sling TV [38] .

Investing and speaking

Chadda is a mentor at Esselerator, a Startup accelerator by Subhash Chandra Foundation. Esselerator is an initiative by Subhash Chandra, a billionaire Media baron, to promote and support tech entrepreneurs in domains like Media, Fintech and Education. Its powered by TiE Mumbai. [53] Chadda is an angel investor in multiple technology startups like online school aggregator platform SchoolForSure.com. [54] In 2019, he spoke at DPS to students on starting a business. At the time he remained CEO of Zee group's digital business division. [55]

Philanthropy

Chadda organised a £1 mliion charity bike ride in aid of the British Asian Trust which saw participation by the Prince of Wales. [56] Chadda presented the Prince of Wales with a cycling vest, which was said to be for his grandchildren. [57] Chadda supports a non-profit organisation Mukkamaar founded by Bollywood actress Ishita Sharma that works towards fighting crime against women by teaching free self defence to young girls. [58] [59] [14] He is helping the organisation launch their digital program through a WhatsApp-based chatbot. [59]

Award and recognitions

References

  1. 1 2 3 bureau, afaqs! news. "Times Network appoints Rohit Chadda & Vinay Sarawagi in leadership roles". www.afaqs.com. Retrieved 6 November 2025.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  2. 1 2 3 Bureau, Adgully. "ZEE Group appoints Rohit Chadda to the role of CEO – Digital Publishing". www.adgully.com. Retrieved 20 July 2019.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  3. 1 2 "Taking the plunge – Bangalore Mirror" . Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  4. ↑ "I love the As – my Audi, Apple gadgets and Asics shoes: Rohit Chadda, MD and Co-founder, Foodpanda.in – The Financial Express". The Financial Express. 12 January 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  5. 1 2 Poovanna, Sharan (22 March 2016). "Payments platform Paylo buys Ruplee" . Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Paylo.in acquires in-restaurant payment app Ruplee". Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  7. ↑ Staff, exchange4media (6 July 2021). "Network18 Digital appoints Rohit Chadda as Group Chief Strategy Officer - Exchange4media". Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media. Retrieved 6 November 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ "Zee Digital jumps to 2nd position in 2020 in ComScore ranking says CEO Rohit Chadda". www.outlookindia.com/. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 Desk, India com Business (17 December 2020). "Rohit Chadda, The Turnaround CEO Carved Out Another Success Story in 2020". India News, Breaking News | India.com. Retrieved 11 January 2021.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  10. 1 2 3 Bureau, BW Online. "Leading The New Normal, Rohit Chadda, The Transformational CEO Turns Around Zee Digital". BW Businessworld. Retrieved 11 January 2021.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  11. 1 2 Desk, India com Business (27 December 2020). "10 Most Successful Tech CEOs of The Decade". India News, Breaking News | India.com. Retrieved 11 January 2021.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  12. 1 2 "Snapshot: Top Tech CEOs of the decade in India | Latest News & Updates at DNAIndia.com". DNA India. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  13. 1 2 "Fortune 40 under 40".
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Rohit Chadda | LinkedIn". in.linkedin.com. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  15. ↑ Lamba, Prerna (12 September 2019). "A World-Class Centre Of Excellence". Business World. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  16. 1 2 "Who is Rohit Chadda?". Rohit Chadda. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  17. 1 2 Sarkar, John (3 April 2015). "Braving parents & in-laws". Times of India. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  18. ↑ "SmartCEO – Magazine – Starting Up – Hello, food!". www.thesmartceo.in. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  19. ↑ "FoodPanda raises $60 mn in a new round of funding – Times of India" . Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  20. ↑ www.ETRetail.com. "Foodpanda India co-founder Rohit Chadda steps down as MD – ET Retail". ETRetail.com. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  21. ↑ "Delivery Hero acquires Foodpanda as Rocket Internet shuffles online takeout pack once again". TechCrunch. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  22. ↑ "Money on the move – The Financial Express". The Financial Express. 17 April 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  23. ↑ "Startup mantras from entrepreneurs like NR Narayana Murthy, Richard Branson, Kunal Bahl and others". Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  24. ↑ Chaturvedi, Pooja (11 January 2015). "The office is shifting" . Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  25. ↑ "The Net Neutrality debate: Paytm and FoodPanda co-founders elaborate". The Financial Express. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  26. ↑ "BGR Talks: CEO, Digital Publishing at Zee Group, Rohit Chadda on Zee's success and future plans". Zee News. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  27. 1 2 "Zee Group appoints Rohit Chadda as CEO-Digital Publishing". BestMediaInfo. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Zee Digital ranks 2nd among digital media publishers, shows Comscore India Report June 2020". Zee Business. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  29. ↑ "Zee Digital Crosses 100 Million Unique Monthly Users in comScore India Ranking in September 2019". headlinestoday. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  30. ↑ "Zee Digital continues its growth streak, crosses 150 million users in March 2020: ComScore India". DNA India. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  31. ↑ Desk, India com News (2 July 2020). "Zee Digital Crosses 185 Million Users in May 2020 on ComScore, Registers 168% Growth Over Previous Year". India News, Breaking News, Entertainment News | India.com. Retrieved 10 August 2020.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  32. 1 2 "Zee5 Launches HiPi Short-Video Platform for Indian Content Creators". NDTV Gadgets 360. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  33. 1 2 3 4 5 India, B. G. R. (14 June 2021). "HiPi will provide creators with multiple avenues to earn from content creation: Rohit Chadda shares HiPi's success story, way forward". BGR India. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  34. ↑ "HiPi flags off India's first digital 'Star Hunt' for ZEE5 originals - Exchange4media". Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  35. 1 2 "ET Now launches ETNowNews.com". The Times of India. 28 January 2023. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  36. 1 2 "'Your Daily Health Companion': Times Network Digital COO Rohit Chadda Introduces 'Health And Me'". Times Now. 3 August 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  37. 1 2 TIMES NOW (28 November 2024). Nitin Gadkari, Rohit Chadda Launch Times Drive's New Digital Platform At Times Drive Green Conclave . Retrieved 6 November 2025– via YouTube.
  38. 1 2 bureau, afaqs! news. "Times Play enters US market with Sling TV launch". www.afaqs.com. Retrieved 6 November 2025.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  39. 1 2 Bureau, Adgully (24 September 2025). "Times Network debuts Times Play OTT in U.S. with Sling TV partnership". www.adgully.com. Retrieved 6 November 2025.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  40. ↑ "Times Play Makes International Debut In The US Via Sling TV". Times Now. 24 September 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  41. 1 2 bureau, afaqs! news. "Times Network acquires Digit.in from 9.9 Group". www.afaqs.com. Retrieved 6 November 2025.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  42. 1 2 3 Rudra, Tapanjana (27 May 2024). "Times Network Buys Digit.in To Strengthen Its Footprint In Tech And Gaming". Inc42 Media. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  43. 1 2 Staff, exchange4media (14 August 2023). "ET Now Swadesh launches its Hindi Business News digital platform - Exchange4media". Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media. Retrieved 6 November 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  44. ↑ "About Us". Times Now. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  45. 1 2 "Rohit Chadda LinkedIn".
  46. ↑ "ET NOW launches its digital news platform ETNOWNEWS.COM". Times Now. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  47. ↑ "ET Now Advisor - Find the Best Credit Card Offers, Loans & Insurance Plans in India". ET Now Advisor. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  48. ↑ "ETNowNews.com logs 10 million users within 20 days". The Times of India. 16 February 2023. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  49. ↑ "ET NOW Dominates YouTube as the Most Watched Business News Channel". Times Now. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  50. ↑ "Times Network's Digit.in Emerges as the No.1 Tech News Platform on ComScore with 10 million unique users". Times Now. 10 April 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  51. ↑ "Delhi Cup 2026 - Skoar Championship". 3 September 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  52. ↑ "Skoar! College Championship 2024: Over 100 Teams From More Than 80 Colleges To Compete For The Title". Times Now. 6 November 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  53. ↑ "Entrepreneurship". subhashchandrafoundation.org.
  54. ↑ "Online School Aggregator Platform SchoolForSure.com Raises Funding Led by Rohit Chadda". Business Standard. 26 January 2017.
  55. ↑ "Scholar badges given at DPS, Vasant Kunj". Hindustan Times . 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  56. ↑ Palmer, Richard (11 June 2021). "Charles becomes prince of wheels for £1m charity ride". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  57. ↑ "Yahoo Search - Web Search". in.search.yahoo.com. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  58. ↑ "Team – MukkaMaar" . Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  59. 1 2 Reuter, Edward R. (March 1966). "Self-Defense for Girls" . Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation. 37 (3): 40–81. doi:10.1080/00221473.1966.10623954. ISSN   0022-1473.
  60. ↑ "VC Circle Profile".
  61. ↑ "Entrepreneur India Awards".
  62. ↑ "CMO ASIA Awards". www.cmoasia.org. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  63. ↑ "Asia Retail Congress Awards". www.asiaretailcongress.com. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  64. ↑ "IIM Rohtak organises marathon for peace and unity". Zee News. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  65. ↑ "Impact Digital Power 100 list of top digital pioneers unveiled - Exchange4media". Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
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