From: Viveck Goenka. To: Express employees

The following is the full text of the email sent by Indian Express chairman Viveck Goenka, announcing the re-entry of George Varghese into the group as CEO, after editor-in-chief Shekhar Gupta relinquished his managerial responsibilities with effect from Krishna Janmashtami:

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Dear All,

You must have all read Shekhar’s mail of 26th August.

I have always admired Shekhar’s leadership, commitment, acumen and foresight and am proud to say that today, the Express is a lean and efficient company, thriving in a challenging environment. We have created a strong space for ourselves that I now hope to grow.

This is the first of what I hope will be many communications from me to all of you. This one is to introduce to you, George Varghese, whom some of you may remember. He joined the Express very early in his career, where he headed marketing and circulation. He then went on to do stints at Hughes Telecom, Reliance Infocomm and KEC International. I have known him for many years and have admired his energy, thoroughness and professionalism. George will be our new Chief Executive Officer.

All department heads other than editorial and the innovations team will report in to him with immediate effect.

For me, the ideal business model has always been good journalism allied with a robust top and bottom line. I take pride in the fact that this company has never declared a dividend. Whatever money we make goes back into the paper and to the cause of high-quality and empowering journalism.

All of you have worked at the Express with an admirable sense of commitment and purpose and I am sure you will continue to do so.

Consequently, the transition from Shekhar going back to an editorial role will be seamless. Shekhar will continue to shape the public discourse through the pages of The Indian Express and The Financial Express. He is, to my mind, one of the finest editors India has produced. I hired him as our Editor when he was all of 38 years of age and I am proud of the result.

News media is facing a time of enormous change but I believe that this is also a time of enormous possibility, especially with the new audiences the internet brings to our content. While the old certainties may be gone, the values of the Express—integrity, courage and the relentless pursuit of the truth—are immutable. These values and my commitment to the independence of the Express will never change.

With best wishes,

Viveck Goenka

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Photograph: courtesy Zig Wheels

Also read: Shekhar Gupta gives up his managerial role

To all Express employees. From: Shekhar Gupta