ABP Network appoints Sameer Rao as CEO of ABP Creations
Samir Rao
ABP Network has appointed Sameer Rao as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ABP Creations, a wholly owned subsidiary of ABP Network. A seasoned media and entertainment professional, Rao has two decades of experience in television, film and digital platforms.
His appointment is effective from June 1, 2022. He will operate out of ABP Network’s Mumbai office.
Rao is a senior Indian media and entertainment industry professional with strong expertise in conceptualizing, developing and executing original content. He previously worked at YouTube, Star India, Discovery Communications, Vinod Chopra Films and UTV Motion Pictures in executive and leadership roles.
In the recent past, ABP Studios, a content production house of ABP Creations, showed huge potential with its co-produced and critically acclaimed Marathi feature film, ‘Karkhanisanchi Waari’ (Ashes on a Road Trip) which was streamed exclusively on SonyLiv.
The film was nominated in eight categories for the prestigious Marathi Filmfare Awards, from which it won three Filmfare Awards, including Best Film, Best Director and Best Supporting Female Actor. He also had eight nominations for the Maharashtra Times Sanman Awards (MATA) and three wins. “Karkhanisanchi” was also selected for the Cannes content market as one of the films which the government has used to showcase as an exemplary work in Marathi cinema.
“Say Yes to the Dress,” another ABP Studios production, which aired on Discovery Plus, was also a hit with audiences. The series is an Indian adaptation of the American reality TV series of the same name which gives audiences the chance to experience the glitz and glamor of it all, as celebrity stylists try to get brides to say ‘yes’ to the elusive dress, while making it an intimate, poignant and memorable experience for the audience.
Avinash Pandey, CEO of ABP Network, said, “We are delighted to welcome Sameer Rao to the ABP Network family. We are certain that with his expertise and achievements, he will take ABP Créations to greater heights. In this dynamic time of digital growth, his vision will align perfectly with our goals for ABP Creations. I believe that over time, his knowledge and ingenuity will further contribute to the success of the organization.
