On a working Wednesday (April 24, 2024), D D Purkayastha, former CEO of the ABP Group, had his near and dear ones from the media fraternity around him to unveil his maiden book – ‘Headline – Memoir of a Media CEO’ in the capital.
Key roles
Introducing DDP (as D D Purkayastha is fondly known), Avinash Pandey, CEO, ABP Network, outlined the former’s career across four decades with the ABP Group. He spent 14 years as the Managing Director & CEO of ABP before transitioning to a Non-Executive Director role in 2021. During his tenure at ABP, Purkayastha played key roles within industry bodies, including serving on the Executive Committee of the Audit Bureau of Circulation and as Deputy President of the Indian Newspaper Society (INS). Additionally, he served as a board member of the Media Research Users Council (MRUC).
Purkayastha's influence extends globally as a board member of WAN-IFRA, the largest media association headquartered in Frankfurt, where he also sits on its five-member Nominating Committee. Furthermore, he contributed eight years of service as a board member of the International Media Association (INMA) in Dallas.
A new world
Pandey stated, “DDP is a giant for several reasons. He understood the need for modernisation much before the others. When he arrived in the ABP group, he led the media industry into a new world of data and measurement.
He led the ABP Group with consideration and humanity and more than anything else, by coming from a small town with big dreams, he gave many the promise of possibilities. He has written a memoir which I believe, will light the fire in the ambition and drive for many young people across industries. Him serving the ABP Group for over 40 years is a remarkable accomplishment in an industry where jobs are plenty and talent is at a premium.”
Working hard
Purkayastha took to the stage where he spoke about his decision to write a book, his keenness to learn a new language and which he eventually did – Spanish, his itchiness for novelty, him choosing not to colour his hair anymore, as well as his desire to revive his guitar playing. “This is a lesson for any young manager. If you set the target very high, you must believe that you will be able to achieve it. It is not simply about setting targets, it is about believing in them too, and working hard to make it happen,” he said.
Homely vibes
This was followed by a Q&A session between Purkayastha and Dr Annurag Batra, Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, BW Businessworld and Founder, exchange4media, which was an attempt to bring out nuances about the book, DDP’s life – both, professional and personal, and unfolding the reasons behind the man that he is today.
On the short span jobs that youngsters choose to have in their career in contrast to the 42 years that he spent at ABP, DDP mentioned that the company had a very homely vibe. His mother was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and the company and his teammates helped him through his tough times.
Rich experience
Purkayastha went on to speak about how he has gained experience across various sectors – from information technology to working for a media company for four decades.
He underlined that people should not be discouraged or fear failure. “Failure should not be considered as underperformance and should not be punished. Unless you fail you will not attain success.”
Purkayastha takes great pride in figuring out and initiating the work-from-home model even before Covid set in, wherein he got the ABP Group to shut down operations of its smaller and remote offices, and got the people to work on-field and from home, in most cases.
A strong work ethic
During his conversation, DDP highlighted his strong ethics – of keeping his professional and personal life, separate. So much so, that his son refused to come and meet him in office again, due to his first incident of being extremely firm and professional with him. His wife’s contribution to his life is immense, he affirmed. “She has given me hope, and has been my pillar of strength in the weakest of my times.”
His first international visit was for work, but he ended up going there along with his family. And being amongst a crowd of the leading newspapers in the US, he was undoubtedly nervous when he was told to make an audio-visual presentation. He fared well in the presentation, just as his son had anticipated.
Purkayastha also recollected telling the management about Dhruba Mukherjee, the current CEO of the ABP and Aveek Sarkar, the current Vice Chairman and Editor Emeritus, ABP Group – that they need to be groomed and made ready to take on responsibilities in the future. He did a good job of preparing his successors before he stepped down from his role in 2021.
A national brand
DDP closed the event with the memories of the Star-ABP deal which helped the latter in transforming from a newspaper to a national brand by foraying into television, “I couldn't sleep for five nights. And I was at the house of the lawyers. Then the deal was signed. And the next morning, I remember I took the first Air India flight to Calcutta. And as we took off and I saw the sun rising. I thought this is the rise of the sun.
Obviously, the most significant was the second part, where we gained full acquisition – that time I was in New Zealand on the holiday with my wife.”
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