Pradeep Guha

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Pradeep Guha, widely known as PG, was an Indian media personality, advertising professional and film producer. He died on 21 August 2021 in Mumbai after battling cancer. He was 70 years old.

Education
Guha studied BA in economics at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, after attending Don Bosco High School in Matunga.

Career
Guha spent nearly three decades at Bennett, Coleman and Company (Times Group), where he served as president from 1986 to 2005 and helped transform The Times of India as well as brands like Filmfare and Femina. He later became CEO of Zee Entertainment Enterprises (2005–2009) and managed 9X Media. When he joined 9X, the network was loss-making; he turned it around and built a profitable music network, launching channels such as 9XM and four others: 9XO, 9X Jalwa, 9X Tashan and 9X Jhakaas.

He held several other leadership roles, including area director and VP of Asia Pacific for the International Advertising Association (2008–2013) and managing director of Culture Company (2008–2010). He served on boards including Raymond Ltd, Puravankara Projects Ltd and Whistling Woods International. Guha was president of The Indian Newspaper Society and the Advertising Club Bombay, and he chaired the National Readership Studies Council. He was the first chairman of the Broadcast Audience Research Council and later chaired the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations. He contributed to liberal journalism and helped set up the Centre of Education and Documentation (CED) in Mumbai, a news clipping library used by many.

Film work
Guha produced films such as Fiza (2000) and Phir Kabhi (2008).

Personal life
He was married to Papia Guha and had a son named Sanket Guha.

Legacy
In 2022, a book titled "Pradeep Guha The Legend I Know" was published on his 70th birthday. Mumbai named a road near his Times of India cabin "Pradeep Guha Chowk." The Times Group also started the Pradeep Guha Trophy for the category of Young Emvie of the Year in his honour.