Durga Raghunath elevated to CEO of Firstpost.com

Her elevation is part of Web18's progression towards a decentralised operating structure

BestMediaInfo Bureau | Delhi | June 11, 2013

Durga Raghunath

Web18, the digital content arm of Network18 and one of India's largest digital publishers, has strengthened its leadership structure by elevating Durga Raghunath as CEO of Firstpost.com. She was earlier VP - Product and Executive News Producer for Firstpost. This move is part of Web18's progression towards a decentralised operating structure built around key strategic business units.

Firstpost.com is an online news and views website that is truly digital and accessible across platforms and devices. Built on the fundamentals of blogging and quick post, user interaction, discussion and debate, Firstpost presents a digital newsroom powered by expert writer-editors across the country and the globe to capture a powerfully shifting news and media consumption reality. Firstpost explores forms of curation, opinion writing, long form and short form that are defined by sharp and insightful questions, strong commentary, breaking views and skilful selection and analysis. According to comScore, Firstpost.com attracts over 5.5 million unique visitors per month globally.

Lakshmi Narasimhan, CEO, Web18, said, “Durga has been the force behind Firstpost.com that has made it one of the most influential news products in the country in a short span of two years. As the product enters its next phase of growth and monetisation, it needs somebody with a deep understanding of digital news products and their business models to lead it. Durga fits the bill perfectly.”

Raghunath said, “I've sat in front of a computer in a newsroom for two years, building an evolving brand. To be given the opportunity to step back and look at it in its entirety is indeed very exciting.”

Raghunath has over ten years' experience in publishing, both books and digital. She previously worked with the Wall Street Journal, Mint and HarperCollins in New York. She has an MBA from ISB and studied publishing at Columbia University. She joined Network18 two and a half years ago and conceptualised and launched Firstpost.com.

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