MUMBAI: The Times of India Group is going the whole hog as far as making new appointments for their new business and news channel is concerned. After hiring some CNBC TV 18, Star News, Headlines Today, Sahara hands, the group has now taken on board Reuters' Giri Venkateshan as news editor - markets.

Venkateshan, who has experience of 17 years in the field, started his career as a banker and has worked with the Hindu Business Line in the area of equity research. Post that, he joined Reuters and has worked with their Mumbai, Delhi and London bureaus. In his nine year stint at Reuters, Venkateshan was the chief correspondent - treasury in charge of all financial reporting in India. Whereas in London, he handled US treasuries and Euro Zone - government bonds.

Speaking on the new appointment, vice president news and editor television division Arnab Goswami says, "A person like Giri brings to our table a greater awareness, breadth of knowledge and experience, which we think will be critical in differentiating us completely from any of the existing news channels or the ones that are slated to launch."

Industry sources reveal that the business and news channel from the Times' kitty is expected to draw from the editorial reserve of the Economic Times and the Economic Times intelligence group, while at the same time build the in-house editorial team.

The name of the new channel has not yet been finalised.