MUMBAI: Balaji Motion Pictures’ COO Vikram Malhotra has joined Studio18 as chief operating officer (COO).

Malhotra will report to Viacom 18 CEO Haresh Chawla and will be heading the production and distribution business of Studio 18.

Malhotra joined Balaji Motion Pictures in September last year. In his short stint with the company, he oversaw the marketing functions of two film releases namely Love, Sex Aur Dhokha and the recently released Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai.

Prior to joining Balaji, Malhotra was the head of worldwide marketing at Kingfisher Airlines for four years. He has also had stints with the erstwhile Lever-Johnson, retail internet at Tata Communications and beverages with The UB Group.

Earlier this year, Studio18 saw the departure of its senior level management namely Sandeep Bhargava (CEO), Priti Shahani (senior vice president marketing, distribution and syndication) and Aman Gill (director – domestic distribution). The current senior team at Studio 18 comprises Hemant Bhardwaj (head – domestic distribution, marketing and syndication) and Tanuj Garg (head of international operations).