Biography of Partho Dasgupta – Founding CEO of BARC India

Partho Dasgupta (born 26 November 1965, Ranchi, India) is an Indian media entrepreneur and management professional recognized for his significant contributions to media management and the country’s audience measurement ecosystem. He is best known as the founding Chief Executive Officer of the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India and currently serves as the Managing Partner at Thoth Advisors.

Early Life and Education

Partho Dasgupta completed his schooling at South Point High School in Kolkata. He pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Jadavpur University and later earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta.

Career

Partho Dasgupta began his career with leadership roles across leading media organizations, including The Economic Times, Times Now, Future Media, and Times Multimedia. He later became the founding CEO of BARC India, where he played a transformative role in creating a transparent, technology-driven television audience measurement system. Under his leadership, BARC India built the world’s largest and most representative viewership panel, implemented advanced data infrastructure such as M2M and big data, and introduced unbiased, multi-stakeholder governance practices.

In subsequent years, Dasgupta transitioned into advisory roles. As Managing Partner at Thoth Advisors, he provides strategic counsel to CEOs and boards, focusing on growth strategies, mergers and acquisitions, and technology adoption within the consumer and media sectors.

Achievements and Recognition

During his tenure at BARC India, the organization was repeatedly recognized among the “Best Places to Work.” Dasgupta has received several awards, including Media CEO of the Year and Media Person of the Year. He was also named among Forbes India’s Top 100 People Managers and served as President of The Advertising Club of India between 2019 and 2021.

Personal Life and Interests

Partho Dasgupta is married and has one daughter who is pursuing law. His spouse is a faculty member at the Bombay International School, and his elder sister resides in Kolkata. Beyond his professional pursuits, he has a keen interest in automobiles and gadgets. He is known to be a speed and technology enthusiast and enjoys watching documentaries on history, espionage, and counter-insurgency.