Komli Media CEO Prashant Mehta steps down

Amar Goel, the company’s founder and chairman, will take over. Whether the move implies structural changes in Komli’s Singapore office remains unknown;  Matt Sutton, managing director, Komli Engage and Play, did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.

Mehta elevated from COO to CEO and became a member of the board of directors in February 2011. He joined Komli from Yahoo in 2008.

“I am looking at a bit of time off and to spend more time with my kids,” Mehta told Indian daily Economic Times. “It is a hard decision, but Komli is at a strong stage right now and I felt the time was right.”

The news comes a month after the company raised $30 million in its fifth round of funding, bringing its venture-capital total to $100 million.

Under Mehta’s leadership, Komli has acquired as many as six companies, mostly in Southeast Asia. These include Singapore-based Aktiv Digital and Admax Network. Komli has also picked up Australian website representation firm Post Click and UK-based online ethnic-marketing company Indoor Media. In late 2011, the company bought the India business of video advertising company Jivox and mobile advertising and publishing network Zestadz.

Following a short break, Mehta plans to start something on his own, the Economic Times reported. He currently owns a stake in Komli Media.

In April, Matthew Ward, Komli’s managing director for Southeast Asia, stepped down. Gulshan Verma, chief revenue officer for Komli, took over in the interim and the company has not hired a permanent replacement. Earlier this year, Amit Bhartiya, managing director and vice-president, mobile advertising, also quit. 

Headquartered in Mumbai, the company has more than 400 employees across 18 offices in India, Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Hong Kong and North America.