Firstpost.com names Durga Raghunath as CEO!

Web18, the digital content arm of Network18, has strengthened its leadership structure by elevating Durga Raghunath to CEO of Firstpost.com. She was earlier VP, Product & Executive News Producer for Firstpost. This move is part of Web18’s progression towards a decentralized operating structure built around key strategic business units.

Firstpost.com is an exclusive online news and views website that is truly digital and accessible across platforms and devices. Built on the fundamentals of blogging and the quick post, user interaction, discussion and debate, Firstpost presents a digital newsroom powered by expert writer-editors across the country and the globe to capture a powerfully shifting news and media consumption reality. Firstpost explores forms of curation, opinion writing, long form and short form that are defined by sharp and insightful questions, strong commentary, breaking views and skilful selection and analysis. According to comScore, Firstpost.com attracts over 5.5 million unique visitors per month globally.

Commenting on this development, Lakshmi Narasimhan, CEO, Web18 said “Durga has been the force behind Firstpost.com that has made it one of the most influential news products in the country in a short span of two years. As the product enters its next phase of growth and monetization, it needs somebody with a deep understanding of digital news products and their business models to lead it. Durga fits the bill perfectly.”

Speaking on her elevation, Durga Raghunath said “I’ve sat in front of a computer in a newsroom for two years, building an evolving brand. To be given the opportunity to step back and look at it, in its entirety, is indeed very exciting.”

Raghunath has over ten years experience in publishing - both books and digital. She previously worked with the Wall Street Journal, Mint and HarperCollins in New York. She has an MBA from ISB and studied publishing at Columbia University. Durga joined Network18 two and a half years ago and conceptualized and launched firstpost.com.