Finding the Storytellers, Platform Architects, and Content Strategists India's Media Industry Keeps Behind Closed Doors
The most valuable talent in media and entertainment does not appear on job boards. A Head of Original Content who has greenlit 15 series with proven viewership metrics, a Broadcast Engineering Director who has led IP migration from SDI infrastructure for a 24/7 multi-channel news operation, a Game Monetisation Director who has optimised ARPU across titles with 5M+ MAU — these professionals operate in a relationship-driven industry and are found only through production house networks, broadcaster alumni circles, guild connections, and years of earned trust within India's creative and media technology community. That is the practice Gladwin brings to every media mandate.
650+
Media & Entertainment professionals mapped
14+
Specialist mandates placed in 36 months
12
Industry guilds, production houses & OTT platforms in our network
The Challenge
Why Media & Entertainment Talent Is Uniquely Difficult to Source
Generic executive search methods fail in media because the most capable professionals are bound by exclusivity contracts and production commitments, and the universe of proven talent at leadership level is deliberately small and relationship-gated.
Content IP and creative leadership is loyalty-bound
Showrunners, Content Heads, and IP Development leads are bound by multi-year production commitments and studio exclusivity arrangements. They do not appear on the open market. Engaging them requires deep relationships within the production community and an understanding of contract cycles, option windows, and project completion timelines.
OTT and streaming talent is being created in real-time
India's OTT explosion has created roles — Head of Content Acquisition, Original Series Commissioning Editor, Streaming Technology Architect — that did not exist five years ago. The talent pool with proven execution experience at scale (50M+ subscribers) is extremely thin, and every placement is a market-creation exercise rather than a standard search.
Broadcast engineering and production technology is a hidden discipline
Master Control Room Heads, Playout Engineers, Broadcast Automation specialists, and OB Van Technical Directors form a small, invisible community. They do not attend corporate events, rarely use LinkedIn, and are found only through broadcaster alumni networks and engineering guild contacts built over decades.
Coverage
Roles We Place — Across Every Media & Entertainment Discipline
Our media practice covers the full spectrum of domain-specific, creative, and specialist roles — the mandates that demand genuine sector knowledge to identify, engage, and assess correctly.
Content Creation & IP Development
- Head of Original Content
- Showrunner — Hindi Language Originals
- Head of Content Acquisition
- IP Development & Adaptation Lead
- Commissioning Editor — Original Series
- Head of Non-Fiction & Unscripted Content
- Script Development Head
- Head of Regional Language Originals
- Documentary & Factual Programming Head
- Content Strategy & Slate Planning Director
OTT & Streaming Operations
- Head of Streaming Platform Operations
- Content Personalisation & Recommendation Lead
- Head of Subscriber Growth & Retention
- OTT Revenue & Monetisation Director
- Head of Content Localisation & Dubbing
- Streaming Quality of Experience Manager
- Head of Direct-to-Consumer Strategy
- AVOD & SVOD Hybrid Model Strategist
- OTT Content Programming & Scheduling Head
- Head of International Content Licensing
Broadcast & Production Technology
- Head of Broadcast Engineering
- Master Control Room Director
- Playout Automation Specialist (Senior)
- Head of OB Van & Remote Production
- Broadcast IT & IP Migration Lead
- Head of Post-Production Technology
- Virtual Production & LED Volume Specialist
- Head of Studio Infrastructure
- Satellite & DTH Uplink Manager
- Cloud Playout & SaaS Broadcast Lead
Talent Management & Licensing
- Head of Talent & Artist Management
- Licensing & Syndication Director
- Head of Format Rights & Adaptation Licensing
- Music Licensing & Rights Manager
- Head of Celebrity & Influencer Partnerships
- Merchandising & Consumer Products Head
- Head of Distribution & Windowing Strategy
- Theatrical & Digital Release Planning Manager
- Head of Brand Partnerships & Branded Content
- Royalty & Residuals Management Lead
Gaming & Interactive Media
- Head of Game Development — Mobile
- Game Monetisation & LiveOps Director
- Head of Game Design — Casual/Hyper-Casual
- Esports Operations & Tournament Manager
- Head of Interactive Storytelling
- Game Analytics & Player Retention Lead
- Head of Game QA & Release Management
- Unity/Unreal Technical Art Director
- User Acquisition & Performance Marketing Lead — Gaming
- Head of Community & Social Gaming
Access
How We Reach Talent That Cannot Be Found by Search
Our media network has been built over a decade — not assembled from a database. Access is earned through relationships with content creators, broadcast engineers, and platform leaders across India's media and entertainment ecosystem.
Indian Broadcasting & Digital Foundation (IBF)
Active relationships with IBF members across broadcast networks, DTH platforms, and digital media companies — covering India's most senior broadcast leadership and content distribution professionals.
IAMAI OTT & Digital Entertainment Group
Engagement with Internet & Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) members across OTT platforms, digital-first content studios, and streaming technology companies — covering India's rapidly evolving digital entertainment leadership.
FTII & SRFTI Alumni Network
Deep connections with Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Pune and Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute (SRFTI) Kolkata alumni — India's primary source of trained directors, cinematographers, editors, sound designers, and production technology professionals.
Producers Guild of India & FICCI FRAMES
Relationships with Producers Guild members and FICCI FRAMES participants — covering independent producers, studio heads, content commissioning editors, and media business leaders who shape India's film and television production ecosystem.
DGA India Guilds & Creative Associations
Access to Directors Guild Association (DGA) India, Screenwriters Association (SWA), and Indian Film & Television Directors' Association (IFTDA) members — the guild networks through which India's creative leadership operates and transitions.
Methodology
How We Validate Technical Depth — Not Just Credentials
A CV confirms a candidate has held a title. Our methodology confirms they have the domain depth the mandate requires. Every media search includes structured creative and technical validation.
Content track record and IP attribution verification
We verify the candidate's specific content credits — shows developed, series commissioned, films produced — and assess personal attribution versus team credit. For content leadership, we review ratings performance, award recognitions, and audience metrics (viewership, completion rates) for the content slate they personally greenlit or developed.
Platform and technology scalability assessment
For OTT and broadcast technology roles, we assess the candidate's specific platform scale — concurrent streams managed, CDN architecture designed, playout hours automated, subscriber base supported. A platform architect who has scaled to 5M subscribers and one who has managed 50M carry fundamentally different experience.
Commercial and rights management proficiency
For licensing, distribution, and monetisation roles, we validate the candidate's deal track record — licence fees negotiated, revenue per subscriber achieved, content cost per hour managed, and windowing strategy outcomes. We cross-reference with distributor and platform references to confirm commercial impact.
Guild and industry relationship mapping
Media & entertainment hiring succeeds or fails on relationships. We assess the candidate's standing within the relevant guild, their production house relationships, and their reputation among commissioning editors and platform heads — factors invisible on a CV but decisive in determining whether they can attract talent and close deals.
Track Record
Mandates We Have Run — Anonymised
A selection of recent specialist placements across the media and entertainment sector. No client names are shared in line with our confidentiality policy.
Head of Original Content — Hindi OTT
Major Indian OTT platform with 30M+ paid subscribers expanding its Hindi-language original content slate from 12 to 30 series annually.
Required a Head of Original Content with minimum 10 years in content commissioning, at least 15 original series greenlighted and delivered, demonstrated relationships with top-tier showrunners and production houses, and a track record of delivering critically acclaimed content with strong viewership metrics. Placed within 50 days.
Head of Broadcast Engineering — News Network
Pan-India news broadcast network operating 4 HD channels with plans to migrate to IP-based broadcast infrastructure and cloud playout.
Mandate required a Head of Broadcast Engineering with 18+ years in broadcast technology, direct experience leading IP migration from SDI infrastructure, SMPTE ST 2110 implementation experience, and prior management of 24/7 playout operations for a multi-channel news environment. Shortlist of 4 delivered in 42 days.
Game Monetisation & LiveOps Director
Indian mobile gaming studio with 3 titles generating $2M+ monthly revenue, seeking to build a dedicated LiveOps and monetisation function.
Required a Game Monetisation Director with 8+ years in mobile gaming, direct experience managing in-app purchase and ad monetisation for titles with 5M+ MAU, demonstrated ARPU optimisation track record, and familiarity with Indian payment ecosystem integration. Prior LiveOps ownership for at least 2 commercially successful titles mandatory. Placed within 38 days.
Start a Search
Share the mandate. We will map India's media and entertainment talent in five working days.
Whether you need a Content Commissioning Editor, a Broadcast Engineering Head, or a Game Development Director — share the brief. Our media practice team will respond with an initial candidate landscape within 48 hours and a full research map within five working days.