Sameer Nair has stepped down as CEO of Applause Entertainment, bringing to an end an eight-year tenure at the content studio he helped establish in 2017 and led as managing director.

He shared the news of his exit on LinkedIn:

However, he did not disclose his next move.

Part of the Aditya Birla Group led by Kumar Mangalam Birla, Applause brought Nair on board in 2017 to revitalise the content studio with a focus on premium content. Under his watch, the company doubled down on OTT, blending original Indian stories with local adaptations of international formats. He also drove marquee tie-ups, including a deal with author Jeffrey Archer to adapt his books for screen.

Before Applause, Nair served as group CEO at Balaji Telefilms.

His tryst with Indian television included a 12-year stint at Star India where he rose through the ranks and launched Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2000.

In a career spanning nearly 30 years, he has also worked with NDTV Imagine and Goldwire Communications, among others.