Blue Ant Media’s Raja Khanna is leaving his position as CEO of television and digital after more than 10 years with the company, Playback has confirmed.

Khanna will exit the global producer, distributor and channel operator by the end of the calendar year as Blue Ant endeavors to place further accountability and decision making authority directly into its various business units.

“In the context of this more decentralized structure, Raja Khanna & Michael MacMillan [Blue Ant co-founder and CEO] decided that the role of CEO, TV & Digital is a layer of executive oversight which is no longer necessary,” stated a company-wide email that was shared with Playback. “Raja has been on the growth journey at GlassBOX and Blue Ant for more than 10 years and he is looking forward to his next challenge. We thank him for his many contributions to the creation and growth at Blue Ant Media which reflect his entrepreneurial spirit.”

In October, Blue Ant began undertaking steps to alter the way its content business operates in order to help further its international expansion. Anchored by the company’s May acquisition of New Zealand-based media company The Racat Group, previous home of ZooMoo and factual producer NHNZ, Blue Ant currently has a network of prodcos, television channels and content distribution operations pushing its content worldwide.

After 10 years of growth & innovation, I am excited to turn over the reins at Blue Ant Media to the amazing team I built. For me? Time to disrupt. Again. #myjobisdone #theyvegotthis #nextchallenge #firstashortbreak

— Raja Khanna (@rajakhanna) November 20, 2017

As CEO of television and digital, Khanna led the development of the company’s content, television and digital strategies. In addition, the seasoned exec oversaw Blue Ant’s global speciality and SVOD channels, international distribution group, its global production studios and its L.A.-based YouTube network.

Previously, Khanna served as CEO of indie broadcasting and media company GlassBox Television where he helped orchestrate the company’s merger with Blue Ant in April 2011. At GlassBox, he was also responsible for growing the company from one to three specialty channels and managing the acquisition of adventure channel T+E from Canadian broadcaster CTV.

Khanna formerly served as co-founder of mobile content delivery platform QuickPlay Media (which sold to AT&T), and as the founder and former CEO of interactive digital media producer Snap Media Corp., which was sold in 2003.

Blue Ant’s co-founder and CEO Michael MacMillan will continue to lead the operations and strategic direction of the Canadian media conglomerate.

Now reporting into MacMillan will be former Racat Group consultant Ward Platt, CEO of Kids & Global Networks; Sam Sniderman, global head of commercial affairs and production; Jamie Schouela, EVP of Canadian media; and Solange Attwood, SVP of Blue Ant International.

Robb Chase, chief corporate development officer; CFO Cynthia Schyff; Asha Daniere, EVP of legal and business affairs; and executive director David Haslingden will continue to report to MacMillan.

Khanna’s departure from the Toronto-headquartered company comes after Blue Ant’s cementing last month of its top line structure; a restructuring that will see Vanessa Case and Marcia Martin exiting their respective roles in the coming months.

Earlier this month, Blue Ant added Carlyn Staudt and Beatrice Lee to its Kids & Global Networks division.

From Realscreen