JioHotstar has strengthened its leadership team by appointing David Zakkam as its new Senior Vice President and Head of Analytics and Data Strategy. This announcement marks a major move for the streaming giant as it prepares for its next phase of growth under the newly formed JioStar venture. The platform, backed by the joint power of Reliance and Disney, is pushing to create a smarter, more personalised experience for millions of users across India, and Zakkam’s arrival signals a focused shift toward deep data-driven decision-making.
A Leader With Global Experience
David Zakkam brings over twenty-one years of experience in analytics, data science, and business strategy. His professional journey includes key roles at top global companies, where he solved complex challenges and helped shape product and user experiences through intelligent use of data. At Uber, he guided the Data and Applied Science team and worked on projects related to rides, delivery, and early AI initiatives. His time at Meta allowed him to work on data integrity and user trust, two critical areas for any large-scale digital platform. He has also worked with Swiggy, where he built strong data systems that supported the company’s growth and improved everyday business decisions. With academic roots in IIT Delhi and IIM Calcutta, Zakkam combines technical strength with sharp business understanding, making him a strong addition to JioHotstar’s leadership.
What His Role Means for JioHotstar
In his new position, Zakkam will be responsible for shaping the entire analytics and data strategy of JioHotstar. He will work closely with departments across the organisation, including product, content, engineering, marketing, and advertising. His main focus will be to build a powerful data foundation that supports smarter recommendations, better content performance, and stronger business growth. Viewers can expect more personalised content suggestions, improved user experience, and faster discovery of shows and movies that match their taste. On the business side, Zakkam will help strengthen advertising strategies, ensuring that ads are more relevant and effective. He will also use data to help identify what content resonates with viewers, guiding the platform’s future investments in originals, sports, entertainment, and regional programming.
A Strategic Step in a Competitive Market
The Indian streaming industry is expanding rapidly, with platforms competing fiercely for user attention. In such a landscape, data becomes a crucial advantage. JioHotstar is already one of the most widely used platforms in India, and the integration of deeper data insights will help it stay ahead of changing audience behaviour. The company’s merger under JioStar gives it access to a large content library, wider distribution, and stronger technological infrastructure. With Zakkam leading analytics, JioHotstar aims to turn this scale into meaningful insights that fuel better decisions. His appointment signals a clear intention to build a platform that not only entertains but understands its users at a deeper level.
Why Viewers Benefit from This Move
For everyday viewers, this leadership change brings several long-term advantages. With a stronger data strategy, the platform will be able to highlight shows and movies that users genuinely enjoy, making browsing easier and faster. Advertisements may become less intrusive and more relevant, improving the overall viewing experience. Content creators will benefit from clearer insights about audience preferences, resulting in better storytelling and more engaging formats. JioHotstar is steadily evolving into a platform that learns from its users, adapts to their habits, and delivers content in a more thoughtful way. The appointment of David Zakkam is an important step in that direction and reflects the company’s commitment to building a future-ready, data-powered streaming experience for all.