MUMBAI: UK’s pubcaster BBC has done some reshuffling for better revenue generation from one of its upcoming key markets-India. One such is the appointment of two new sales heads- Abhijeet Dhar and Siddharth Bhatnagar for BBC Advertising.

Dhar was earlier BBC Advertising regional manager- News for north and east India while Bhatnagar was heading the same for west and south India. Both of them will handle sales for the network’s news platforms including television, online, mobile, apps, video on demand and Lonely Planet along with a team of seven others.

In his new role, Dhar will handle sales for travel, IT, telecom, government, PSUs and corporate while Bhatnagar will look after auto and BFSI (Banking, financial services and insurance). They will report to BBC Worldwide sales director (news) for south Asia Taranjeet Singh who was elevated to the position in 2012 but was handling the sales for India as well.

BBC is increasing its focus on India, which BBC World News CEO Jim Egan had highlighted in his visit late last year. It is also looking at a big thrust in the digital space in the country. In an earlier interview to indiantelevision.com Egan had said, “One thing particularly exciting about India is that in the other markets digital penetration is nearing saturation point but in India there is a lot of room for growth in the mobile sector and it is one of the biggest growth markets for mobile.”

The sales revenue push will be for digital medium with a broad based clientele list including education and real estate. The broadcaster claims to have nearly two million visitors a month from India for its website out of which most of it is unique and exclusive.

Dhar has been with BBC for six years. Prior to this, he was with Viacom 18 as senior business manager for Viacom Brand Solutions, Radio City and the Times of India. Bhatnagar started his career at BBC in 2010 before which he was with SET India as sales manager, UTV World Movies as regional head for north and west, Radio Mirchi and Am sales and marketing.