New Delhi: Journalist Shekhar Gupta has been appointed vice-chairman and editor-in-chief at India Today Group after resigning from The Indian Express newspaper.

“I am delighted to announce the appointment of Shekhar Gupta as Vice Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of all news properties of the India Today Group. It includes all our news and business publications, news TV brands and all related news and business digital brands," wrote Aroon Purie, chairman of India Today Group, in an internal email to staff. Gupta joins the company, which has presence across print media, television news, radio as well as education, from 1 July.

Gupta has previously worked at India Today from 1983 to 1995.

“He will report to me and will be responsible for the editorial quality of all our news and business brands, and our overall expansion and profitability. He will work closely with Ashish Bagga, Group CEO, and enable him to effectively grow the readership and viewership of our brands, profitably," wrote Poorie.

Living Media India Ltd is the parent company which owns the India Today group of publications. The group also runs two news channels—Aajtak and Headlines Today.

Anil Mehra, former vice-chairman, will continue as consultant to advise the group on matters of strategic importance, added Purie.

The media conglomerate is expected to launch some new “media offerings" as well.

“I have always believed: create good content and money will follow. That will be the principle behind another project that I greatly look forward to with Shekhar’s arrival: the launch of some new editorial offerings that will uniquely blend the best of reporting and analysis."

Meanwhile, Raj Kamal Jha was appointed as chief editor at The Indian Express newspaper, replacing Gupta. In an internal email to employees on Tuesday, Express group chairman Viveck Goenka announced the appointment of Jha. Unni Rajen Shanker, former executive editor, was named editor. Both Jha and Shanker joined the Indian Express in 1996.

“I look forward to working closely with them. They will find me every bit as supportive as all their predecessors, including Shekhar..., as we plan and implement exciting new upgrades to all our news brands," Goenka wrote in the email, a copy of which was seen by Mint.

The Indian Express Ltd publishes The Indian Express, The Financial Express and Marathi newspaper Loksatta.

Gupta, who will leave The Indian Express on 15 June, started working at the newspaper as a reporter in 1977. He worked for the publication for a total of 25 years in two stints.

Goenka said the company will focus on an integrated newsroom culture.

“In addition to revamped content, I look forward to closely integrating all our news operating systems because our growth is now across platforms." said Goenka.

Publications of the Express Group compete with those of HT Media Ltd, the publisher of Mint and Hindustan Times, in some markets.

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