Deepak Asher (Inox) has stepped down from the presidentship of the Multiplex Association of India to pursue his other interests on the non-professional front.
Kamal Gianchandani (PVR) has been appointed the new president. Asher has served the MAI as its president right from its inception in 2002. According to a press release issued by the MAI: Deepak Asher brought with him more than 35 years of experience starting with hardcore accounting, auditing, finance, taxation, and law, and then moving on to corporate finance, business strategy, growth and diversification. During his decades of outstanding service, not only has he added value to several different businesses with his rich and varied experience, but he has also provided strategic leadership and valuable guidance to the entire cinema exhibition sector during his 18 years at the helm of the MAI. All MAI members would like to publicly thank Deepak Asher for his service and dedication to serving the cinema exhibition sector. During his tenure, the cinema exhibition sector had to deal with innumerable challenges, which the MAI could navigate with Deepak Asher’s vision, drive and performance focus, combined with his commitment to serving the best long-term interests of the entire sector. He leaves a more robust, agile and resilient cinema exhibition sector, well placed to deal with the unparalleled impact of COVID-19 and other challenges going forward.”
“It has been an extremely enriching and rewarding experience heading the MAI right from its formative years, to the position that it is in today,” said Asher. He added, “I have been blessed with the fortune of working with some exceptionally bright and sincere colleagues from the cinema exhibition industry, without whom we would not have been able to get where we are today. I am also grateful to all the other stakeholders in the film industry, and the regulators, with whom I have had the occasion to interact, in the best interests of the sector. I wish the MAI all the very best in all its future endeavours, and look forward to seeing the sector flourish and prosper under its new leadership.”