Govindraj Ethiraj joins UIDAI project

Govindraj Ethiraj, editor-in-chief, BloombergUTV will be joining the UIDAI project being undertaken by the government of India. He was invited by Nandan Nilekani to be a part of the crucial project.

Ethiraj will bid adieu to BloombergUTV of which he was one of the founding members.

He had played a crucial role in establishing BloombergUTV's operations in the country and growing it from the pilot stage in 2006 into one of India's most dynamic English business news channels.

Ronnie Screwvala, UTV Group chairman and CEO, said, ''Since BloombergUTV's inception, Ethiraj has been one of the key catalysts in ensuring the genesis and birth of a new business entity and successfully navigating it though it's pilot stage. I wish Govind well in his new assignment.''

Speaking on his decision, Ethiraj said, ''I have always wanted to work on a project that reflected ambition and scale and, at the same time, helped understand my country and its real issues better.

''The UIDAI project gives me the opportunity to do that and work with an exciting and committed team led by Nandan Nilekani, chairman, UIDAI. I thank UTV News and founder Ronnie Screwvala for allowing and indeed supporting me in my move me to take up this invitation.''

Ethiraj will remain with BloombergUTV till the end of September 2010 to ensure smooth transition of operations.