The mandate for Kumar is to transform Zee into a dynamic workplace that can attract the best talent and enable innovative people practices.
Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEEL) has appointed Animesh Kumar as chief people officer. Kumar has moved from the Future Group, where he was chief people & transformation officer for a very short stint of only five months.
Prior to that he spent long years at IDFC Bank. Kumar, who was heading the Bank’s human resources division since 2009, moved out of IDFC after NS Rajan joined as the CHRO and CMO. For a few months he was on a sabbatical.
At Zee, he will report to Punit Goenka, MD & CEO, ZEEL. The mandate for Kumar is to transform Zee into a dynamic workplace that can attract the best talent, enable innovative people practices, and support the growing workforce needs.
“Human capital is the most important source of competitive advantage in media and entertainment and I am delighted to lead the HR function of this pioneering brand, which 25 years ago sparked not just a Company, but an entire industry in itself” says Animesh Kumar, Chief People Officer, ZEE Entertainment,” says Kumar.
For Kumar, this will be his first stint with a media company. An XLRI pass out, Kumar has over 25 years of experience and a large part of his career has been spent with the leading banks of the country.
After passing out of XLRI in 1993, Kumar started his career with Marico. He worked with the FMCG company as HR manager for more than five years. His next destination was Thomas Cook, where he spent two years as HR manager.
In 2001, Kumar moved to the banking industry. He joined Standard Chartered Bank as head of performance & rewards and was with the bank for around three and a half years.
In May 2004, he moved to Yes Bank as country head-HR, for short stint of nine months. In April 2005, he had joined ABN Amro Bank as V-P HR.
In 2009, Kumar joined IDFC Bank as group head-HR. There, he rose above the ranks to become head of HR and brand. He was also the CEO of IDFC Foundation.
Future Group was Kumar’s non-banking stint after 17 years. Here he was to lead transformations, future of work, future of retailing and design of tech augmented workplace
Kumar completed his PGDPM&IR from XLRI in 1993 and holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Shri Ram College of Commerce.