Synovate India's Alok Shanker passes away

Televisionpoint.com Correspondent | Mumbai
Alok Shanker, former managing director, Synovate India, passed away on October 6, 2008. He was suffering from cerebral cancer for the past two years. He was 51 years old, and is survived by his wife and his two children.

Shanker was responsible for the growth of Blackstone Market Facts, India (BMFI). Later, when Synovate acquired Blackstone Market Facts, Shanker was the managing director, Synovate until December 2007, when he stepped down due to his bad health.

At that time, Paru Minocha, who was director, Synovate stepped into Shanker's shoes. Shanker was expected to resume his work in 2008, and talks about him resuming in April 2009 were on, but his health did not allow it.

Shanker was seen as someone who created an environment of growth for those who worked with him. Madhurima Bhatia, head marketing and communications for Synovate, India said that Shanker was a very humble person and was also very easy to approach, and thus, drove growth in the organisation.

Apart from Synovate and Blackstone Market Facts, Shanker also held senior positions with AC Nielsen and IMRB. He started his career with Gallup in 1982.