Aroon Purie

An Indian Chartered Accountant, Aroon Purie graduated from The Doon School and was awarded his BSc in Economics from the London School of Economics in 1965. He started his career in 1970 at Thomson Press as Production Controller and continues to be its guiding force even though he recently handed over the reins to his son Ankoor Purie. Thomson Press is the largest commercial printer in South Asia, and with five facilities across India it has a national presence. He began the India Today Group with an eponymous magazine in 1975. Today the group is India's most diversified media group with 32 magazines, 7 radio stations, 4 TV channels, 1 newspaper, multiple web and mobile portals, a leading classical music label and book publishing arm. Through its subscribers, readers, viewers and listeners, the group reaches out to over 50 million individuals.

Vidya Vilas Purie, Aroon Purie's father, launched the fortnightly magazine India Today in 1975, with his daughter Madhu Trehan as its editor and Aroon Purie as its publisher. The magazine was born in the time of emergency. With it, Aroon tried to "fill the information gap which exists amongst persons interested in India residing abroad". With editions in five languages, it is the most widely–read publication in India – a position it has held for over a decade – with a readership of over 11 million.

He sets the journalistic style for the largest and most respected magazine publishing group in India and for the premier 24-hour news and current affairs Hindi news channel Aaj Tak and English news channel Headlines Today.

He was conferred the Padma Bhushan, a prestigious and third highest civilian award, by the government of India, for his contribution to Indian journalism. He has received numerous other honours which include the B.D. Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism (1988), 'Journalist of the Year 1990' award by the Indian Federation of Small and Medium Newspapers, the G.K. Reddy Memorial Award for Outstanding Contribution to Journalism (1993–1994), the Hall of Fame Award from the Advertising Club of Kolkata (2002) and the NT Award for Lifetime achievement from www.Indiatelevision.com (2008).

He is associated with several prestigious councils, amongst them, as member, Council of Management, Audit Bureau of Circulations (Chairman, 2000–2001). He is on the Executive Committee of The Editors' Guild of India, Council of Management All India Management Association (Special Invitee). He was chairman, CII National Committee on Media (2001–2002).

He is currently the chairman of FIPP (Federation of International Periodicals and Publications).  This is the first time the post has been held by an Indian national. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accounts (England & Wales). Aroon Purie is a board member of the Global Editors Network since its creation in April 2011.