Kapadia Leaves India's MRUC

In India Bharat Kapadia, who is a Director of Lokmat Newspapers, has stepped down as Vice Chairman of the MRUC (Media Research Users Council), citing 'personal reasons'. He has been replaced by Mumbai Samachar newspaper proprietor Hormusji Cama.

The MRUC - which conducts the Indian Readership Survey (IRS) - has itself been a regular in the press in the last 12 months. A year ago, Reliance Media World (RMW) accused the body of providing an 'erroneous radio measurement system', which under-reports the number of radio listeners, especially in smaller towns.

Then in January, just eight months after joining as CEO, Joseph Eapen quit. Since then, the MRUC has terminated its agreement with Australian firm Roy Morgan Research to launch a single source survey in India, less than three months into the deal.

Kapadia (pictured), who was elected to the MRUC role in 2009, has worked at Lokmat since 2008. Prior to this, he was CEO and Managing Editor at Jagran 18, Executive Director at Dainik Bhaskar, and Editor and Associate Publisher at Chitralekha Magazine.

The MRUC has replaced him with Cama, who has held a seat on its Board since 2007. Like Kapadia, Cama is a publishing industry veteran, who also sits on the Press Trust of India's Board, and previously served as President of the Indian Newspaper Society.

MRUC Chairman Lloyd Mathias comments: 'Hormusji's vast experience and knowledge will be a great asset as MRUC continues its growth and benefit to media users.'

Web site: www.mruc.net .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.