JioHotstar Appoints David Zakkam as Senior Vice President for Analytics and Data Strategy

JioHotstar has selected David Zakkam, a former executive from Uber, to take on the role of Senior Vice President and Head of Analytics and Data Strategy. This decision follows Zakkam’s brief retirement earlier in the year after his tenure at Uber, as revealed in his LinkedIn update.

Zakkam possesses more than 21 years of extensive experience in data science and analytics, having held prestigious senior positions at renowned technology firms such as Uber, Meta, Swiggy, and Mu Sigma. While at Uber, he led the Data and Applied Science team in India, facilitating growth in rides, delivery, and mobility services, while also pioneering early uses of Generative AI. During his time at Meta, he tackled significant integrity issues that affected millions of users. As Vice President of Analytics at Swiggy, he was instrumental in enhancing the company’s data culture and developing impactful decision-making systems.

David Zakkam’s Role in JioHotstar

Bharath Ram, Chief Product Officer at JioStar, expressed in an internal communication about Zakkam’s appointment that in this role, he will collaborate with various teams including business, content, marketing, ads, engineering, and product to explore ways to unlock both consumer and business value via data-driven decisions.

The Significance of Data in JioHotstar’s Future

JioHotstar stands as one of the largest OTT services globally and is currently positioned where data-led decision-making is set to significantly influence its trajectory over the next decade. Zakkam noted that the chance to establish advanced data capabilities and leverage analytics for strategic gain at JioHotstar was a driving force behind his return from retirement. His goal is to enhance the platform’s ability to harness data for evaluating content performance, refining personalisation, and bolstering revenue growth both in India and international markets.