Balasubramanian S, who has led digital business at Dinamalar for more than 16 years, will step down at the end of October 2026. His next assignment is not yet public, but he says he is looking for a broader leadership mandate across media, digital and emerging platforms.
From print advertising to digital business leadership
Balasubramanian joined Dinamalar in 2010, when regional publishers had built strong audiences but digital monetisation was still maturing. Over time, his remit expanded well beyond digital publishing to include business strategy, revenue growth, audience development, content and monetisation, digital advertising and AdTech, technology, partnerships and cross-functional transformation.
- Began his media career in 1997 at Dinakaran Newspaper and spent over eight years there.
- Moved to Galatta as Senior Vice President – Ad Sales for Galatta.com and Galatta Cinema from October 2005 to December 2009.
- At Dinamalar, built and led the digital business through the print-to-digital transition.
- Currently focused on AI, Generative AI and Agentic AI applications in media.
Why this move matters now
His exit arrives at a moment when publishers are rethinking digital monetisation, first-party data, programmatic advertising, connected TV and AI-led content. A regional digital leader moving toward an AI-heavy mandate signals where media organisations are placing their next bets.
He is also pursuing MIT Professional Education’s Applied Agentic AI for Organizational Transformation programme, putting formal learning behind the shift.
Industry leadership beyond the newsroom
Balasubramanian served as President of the Advertising Club Madras from 2023 to 2025 and remains an Ex-Officio Committee Member. During his tenure, the Club ran more than 50 programmes and saw the MADDYS Awards record 1,015 entries in 2024, the highest in the awards’ 42-year history, followed by 929 entries in 2025. The Club also reported revenue of more than ₹25 lakh and a profitable operating year.
“After 16+ years, I’ve decided to move on from Dinamalar at the end of this month,” he said in a LinkedIn post.
He added that the next chapter will be “a broader business leadership mandate across media, digital and emerging platforms.”
What marketers can take away
For marketing professionals, the story is a reminder that digital leaders are now expected to connect audiences, technology, revenue and organisational change. As regional media moves deeper into first-party data and AI, the most resilient leaders are pairing operational experience with formal upskilling in emerging technology.
Balasubramanian is also an Indian Masters sprinter with personal bests of 13.10 seconds in the 100m and 26.30 seconds in the 200m, and has represented Tamil Nadu and India in Masters Athletics. He draws parallels between sport and leadership: discipline, resilience, continuous improvement and performance optimisation.
Source: MediaNews4U
