Rohit Panwar
Growth Leader | P&L, Content Growth & User Centric Solutions
New Delhi
Summary
Growth leader with 14 years of experience in P&L, content and revenue strategy across the digital content industry, including short video, aggregators, news platforms, long form original videos and social media. Currently General Manager- Strategy at Zee Media (IDPL), leading Indian language products, video and digital expansion. Built content and creator ecosystems for TikTok, Helo, Microsoft, Alibaba, ShareChat and Hindustan Times. Advisor to startups and content companies, and Academic Council Member at Delhi University.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
General Manager, Strategy
Zee Media (IDPL)
04.2025 - Current
- Oversee P&L of Indian language products, video pod and digital brands like Zee News, Wion, India.com, DNA, Techlusive, Health Site, Cricket Country, Bollywood Life and many more.
- Made South language and video business profitable in 3 months by streamlining ops and opening new revenue funnels.
- Closed CMS partnership with Vietnam partners on 50 lakh INR mg model per month and launched YouTube syndication business under spiritual content on revenue sharing model.
- Started Podcasts under SOL brand to build new revenue lines and govt collaborations.
- Team Size: 100+
Advisor, Digital Growth Strategy (Advisory Role)
Panchjanya (Media House of RSS)
05.2024 - Current
- Overseeing digital portfolio including website, app and social platforms.
- Designing long-term strategies to expand digital footprint and engagement.
- Directed end-to-end management of event IPs from concept to execution.
- Built partnerships with content distribution platforms and ad-tech firms to scale growth.
- Team Size: 20+
General Manager, Digital Business Strategy
PTC Network
05.2024 - 10.2024
- Directed P&L across PTC News, Punjabi Manoranjan, PTC Bharat, OTT & regional channels.
- Managed growth of 10 YouTube channels, 5 Instagram accounts, and 100+ Facebook pages.
- Increased revenue by 30% in 3 months through ad-tech and distribution partnerships.
- Boosted OTT subscriptions by 20% in 4 months via WhatsApp funnel.
- Team Size: 55
Head of Content Strategy (Advisor)
Lokal
03.2023 - 04.2024
- Led multilingual content & growth pod (Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Punjabi).
- Introduced new categories (Emotion, Devotion, Comedy, Discovery) → +30% views per DAU.
- Improved home-scroll metric by 35% with new single-feed homepage.
- Partnered with influencers & media houses for campaigns with Amazon, Blinkit, Tata Motors.
- Team Size: 60
Senior Manager, Head of Content Strategy
ShareChat
03.2021 - 03.2023
- Grew creator ecosystem to 10k+ creators across categories.
- Built ShareChat Trends → time spent grew from 3 min to 7 min per user.
- Designed content strategy for Audio Chatrooms with celebs and KOLs.
- Launched multiple IPs and challenges, collaborated with Spotify & Wynk for Music Day.
- Team Size: 72
Managing Editor, Strategy & Ops
ByteDance (TikTok & Helo)
04.2019 - 02.2021
- Led content & community ops for Helo and acquired 60M DAU in six months.
- Created viral campaign #EduTok and launched Helo Indonesia app.
- Onboarded 7000+ creators (including 4000+ top-level creators).
- Collaborated with Ministry of Health on #FightAgainstCoronavirus campaign.
- Team Size: 45
Associate Editor
Microsoft News (MSN)
02.2017 - 03.2019
- Founding member of Hindi edition of MSN News India.
- Managed content ops and onboarded partners like HT, TOI, Dainik Bhaskar, Jagran.
- Team Size: 4
Content Manager
UC Browser
10.2016 - 02.2017
- Managed Politics, Jobs-Education, and Society verticals.
- Collaborated with ABP News and Microsoft Bing for election projects.
- Directed localization for UI, surveys and marketing content.
- Team Size: 15
Chief Content Planner
Patrika Digital
10.2015 - 09.2016
- Led central content planning across Patrika TV, Patrika.com and Rajasthan Patrika.
- Directed video ops and social media for YouTube and Facebook.
- Hosted a 30-min national news bulletin on Patrika TV.
- Team Size: 12
Senior Correspondent
HT Media (Hindustan)
04.2011 - 09.2015
- Reported on Politics, Education, Aviation, Crime, Delhi Metro.
- Covered 3 major elections (Delhi MCD, Assembly, and 2014 Parliamentary).
- Authored 100+ impactful stories; worked with UNICEF India on education & Swachh Bharat projects.
- Covered historic events like the 2011 Anti-Corruption Movement and 2012 Nirbhaya protests.
- Individual Contributor
Education
PG Diploma - Journalism & Mass Communication
IIMC
01.2011
Bachelor of Journalism & Mass Communication -
University of Delhi
04-2010
Skills
Content Strategy, Influencers based community
P&L management, partnerships, revenue growth
YouTube CMS, app management, video ecosystems
Social media growth & new-age content platforms
Data-driven strategy: CTR, DAU, MAU, retention
Effective communicator; fluent in English & Hindi, working knowledge of Punjabi & Haryanvi
References
Sushant, Mohan, Chief Business Officer, 7045346692, BAG Convergence
Awards
- ByteDance Leader Award (China, 2019) for successfully achieving AOP goals.
- Excellence Award – Built Live Streaming Category, TikTok (ByteDance, 2020)
- Most Influential Team Award – ShareChat
- HT Star Award (2015) : Best Reporter of the Month
- Best Digital Reporting Team - Delhi Assembly Election 2015
- Association of Indian Universities Award for Media Coverage (2014–15)
Timeline
General Manager, Strategy
Zee Media (IDPL)
04.2025 - Current
Advisor, Digital Growth Strategy (Advisory Role)
Panchjanya (Media House of RSS)
05.2024 - Current
General Manager, Digital Business Strategy
PTC Network
05.2024 - 10.2024
Head of Content Strategy (Advisor)
Lokal
03.2023 - 04.2024
Senior Manager, Head of Content Strategy
ShareChat
03.2021 - 03.2023
Managing Editor, Strategy & Ops
ByteDance (TikTok & Helo)
04.2019 - 02.2021
Associate Editor
Microsoft News (MSN)
02.2017 - 03.2019
Content Manager
UC Browser
10.2016 - 02.2017
Chief Content Planner
Patrika Digital
10.2015 - 09.2016
Senior Correspondent
HT Media (Hindustan)
04.2011 - 09.2015
PG Diploma - Journalism & Mass Communication
IIMC
Bachelor of Journalism & Mass Communication -
University of Delhi