Coorg-born Kaveri Kalanithi, of Sun TV Networks Ltd., is
India’s highest paid corporate executive. The CEO of Sun TV Network
Limited, Kavery Kalanithi is actively involved in its business and
day-to-day operations.
Education
Kavery
Kalanithi holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the prestigious
University of Madras, Chennai (formerly known as Madras). Her strong
leadership skills and will power are the mantra behind the unprecedented
success of the SUN group.
As a CEO of Sun TV Network
Kavery
not only monitors the viewer feedback with regard to the programs, but
also decides the content mix for airing on the various channels. Her
inclination towards philanthropic activities has helped her become a
part of the on board trustees of SUN foundation, which is a public
charitable organization and she also supervises its daily operations.
Further, she is the Non-executive Chairman of Spice Jet Limited.
Analyzing
the media and entertainment industry, the firm said the digitalization
drive by the Centre along with addressability for cable television would
help Sun TV Network. Being the largest regional TV network and one of
the key players in the DTH space, it is expected that the new stream of
revenue for the firm arising from the increased DTH subscriber base in
south India would maintain a positive momentum in the coming years.
Highest paid business women
According
to Sun TV's annual report, the company's founder and executive chairman
Maran and his wife Kavery Kalanithi, who is an executive director in
the company, earned salaries of Rs 13.14 crore each during the year
2015-16. While the salary level remained flat, ex-gratia/bonus rose to
Rs 58.33 crore from Rs 48.13 crore for Maran and to Rs 58.32 crore from
Rs 48.12 crore in Kavery's case. While Kalanithi Maran is the chairman
and managing director of Asia’s largest TV network, Kaveri Kalanithi is
the executive director of the company. They took home a salary of
Rs.122 crore (Rs.61 crore each) in the year ended 31 March.
Kavery
Kalanithi made it to the headlines of every daily, when her annual pay
package declined from whopping Rs. 72 crore declined to Rs. 57 crores in
2012 as an effect on recession. But, she is still the highest paid
Indian business Woman, followed by Ms. Urvi A. Piramal, Chairperson of
Peninsula Land with an annual pay package of Rs.7.3 crores.
Business Entities
Sun Network Offers 33 Television Channels in Four Indian Languages.
Sun Direct DTH - Direct to Home broadcasting Service.
Suryan FM - Tamil Radio.
Red FM - MultiLingual Indian Radio.
Sun Pictures - Tamil Movie Production house.
Dinakaran - Tamil daily news paper.
Tamil Murasu - Tamil evening news paper.
Malai Murasu - Tamil evening news paper.
Kunkumam, Muthaaram, Vannathirai, Kunguma Chimizh, Kungumam Thozhi, Aanmigam Palan - Six Tamil magazines.
Sumangali Cable Vision (SCV) - Multi System Operators (MSO).
Sun 18 - to distribute its channels through cable, DTH, IPTV, HITS and MMDS.
Sun Risers - Hyderabad in IPL.
Family
Kaveri
is the daughter of the late Jammada A. Belliappa (Bolli) and Neena,
hailing from Kaikery near Gonikoppal in Coorg. Belliappa was an
insurance executive based at Chennai, where Kaveri met Kalanithi at a
friend’s place and got married in 1991. Also, she has been blessed
daughter Kavya Maran (born 1992) who wishes to take her father’s
business to a greater height of success.
Kavery Kalanithi is
married to the Indian Media baron Maran Kalanithi, who is the son of
Former Union Minister of Commerce, Sh. Murasoli Maran since 1991.
Kalanithi is an Indian media baron who is the chairman and managing
director of Sun Group. He owns television channels, newspapers,
weeklies, FM radio stations, DTH services and a movie production house.
He also held a major share in the Indian airline Spice Jet from 2010 to
2015. He is also the heir to a very powerful political member of the
country’s polity. His father is the former Union Minister of Commerce,
Murasoli Maran. He is the grand nephew of M Karunanidhi, the Chief
Minister of Tamil Nadu. He was initially the owner of Spice Jet, which
after undergoing through a series of losses, was sold to one of its
former owner. Presently he holds the position of a Director and Convener
of the gigantic Sun TV Network, which is enjoying a blooming and
prosperous period.
Affiliations
|
| Mrs. Kavery Kalanithi Maran served as the Managing Director at Sun TV Network Limited since April 20, 2012. |
| Mrs.
Maran served as the Chairman at SpiceJet Limited since November 2010
and served as its Non-Executive Director since November 15, 2010 until
January 29, 2015. |
| She has been an Executive Director of Sun TV Network Ltd since April 20, 2012. |
| Mrs.
Maran serves as a Director of Kal Radio Limited, South Asia FM Limited,
Udaya FM Pvt. Ltd, Kungumam Publications Pvt. Ltd, Kungumam Nithiyagam
Pvt. Ltd, Kal Investments (Madras) Pvt. Ltd, Kal Comm Pvt. Ltd, Sun
Direct TV Pvt. Ltd, Kal Publications Pvt. Ltd, Kal Media Services
Private Limited, Kal Holdings Private Limited and Sun Business Solutions
Private Limited. |
| Mrs. Kaveri served as a Director of Kal Airways Private Limited until November 21, 2012. |
| Mrs. Kaveri served as a Director of Sun TV Network Limited from June 16, 2005 to April 20, 2012. |
| Mrs.
Kaveri was also appointed as the director on Board of the company
with effect from Nov. 15, 2010 and is also the on Board director of Sun
TV limited Network, South Asia FM limited, Kal Radio Limited, Udaya FM
limited, Kungumam Publications Private limited,Kungumam Nithiyagam
Private Limited, Kal Investments, Kal Comm Private limited, Sun Direct
private limited, Kal publications Pvt Ltd, Kal Airways Pvt Ltd, Kal
Media Services Pvt Ltd, KAl Holdings Pvt Ltd and Sun business solutions
Pvt. Ltd |
| Mrs.
Kaveri is an active committee member of Share Transfer and
Transmission Committee of Sun TV Network Limited, the Audit Committee
of South Asia FM Ltd and Audit and Remuneration committee of Kal Radio
Limited. |
Other Affiliations
|
| University of Madras |
| SpiceJet Limited |
| Kal Airways Private Limited |
Awards
|
| Indian Televison Academy award for the best Tamil TV Channel for the year 2001 - Sun TV. |
| Indian Televison Academy award for the best Malayalam TV Channel for the year 2001 - Surya TV. |
| Indian Televison Academy award for the best Kannada TV Channel for the year 2001 - Udaya TV. |
| Indian Televison Academy award for the best Telugu TV Channel for the year 2001 - Gemini TV. |
| India’s highest paid corporate executives in India. |
Quotes |
| “I don't believe in industry's perception; I believe in creating trends.” |
| “I
strongly believe that if you have affordable pricing, you can do mass
transportation in India, with infrastructure and new airports also
coming up.” |
| “India
is witnessing substantial growth, and predominant growth is expected
from cities and industrial towns which remain underserved.” |
| "Whatever business I do, I am an active player." |
| “Worldwide,
if you see, low-cost carriers are the ones doing well - RyanAir or
EasyJet or SouthWest in the U.S. They are the ones who escaped the
recession.” |