World Car Awards - Juror Profile

INDIA

SIDDHARTH VINAYAK PATANKAR		Editor-in-Chief, Acko Drive Former Editor-in-Chief, carandbike; and Editor-Auto, NDTV Group Siddharth is one of the most well-known faces of Indian journalism. He has set up a new media entity for content at Acko Tech - a technology company in India. The first vertical is Acko Drive which focuses on cars, bikes, tech, through text and video formats. This new content division at Acko Tech, sees the Acko Drive channel focus on bringing consumers content relevant to them from the automobile industry. Siddharth began his career as a news journalist and features producer at the prolific NDTV network. He spent many years reporting from the field from around the world, and also was one of the country's top primetime news anchors for several years. As the anchor and editor of the country's most watched and longest running automobile based programme - The Car and Bike Show, on the NDTV network. Siddharth popularised the concept, and has since helped evolve a new niche of auto-based viewing and programming for Indian television and Internet. He is a well-respected name, not just as an automobile journalist, but also as a former financial correspondent who specialises in the automobile industry. He also conceived and began the annual carandbike Awards, and now subsequently the Acko Drive Awards, which hold the reputation of being the most non-controversial and sought-after awards for the Indian auto industry. In 2014 Siddharth helped create the digital automobile entity carandbike which now commands a massive traffic of 22 million visitors per month, and leads all digital automobile media in India on content. He routinely travels to all parts of the world to test new cars, and cover the latest in automobile design & technology. When he gets the time, he loves to cook, and try new food! Siddharth holds a Master of Science degree in Communication Studies from the prestigious Pune University. He has also studied in Australia and the United States. He has represented India on the World Car jury since 2011 and has served as a Director - the first Asian to hold the post - since 2014. He is also now the first Asian to be Vice Chair (2021-23), then Chair (2024-present day).

WORLD CAR AWARDS: CELEBRATING THE BEST OF TODAY. EMBRACING THE BEST OF TOMORROW.