Former Gulf News manager Chander Rai dies of leukaemia
Chander Rai played important role in helping transform newspaper into biggest in UAE and Gulf
Dubai: Chander Rai, the former general manager of Gulf News, passed away yesterday in Houston at the age of 70, after a long and brave struggle with leukaemia, during which he maintained his usual spirited approach to life until the very end.
He is mourned by his wife Lekha, son Sameer, and daughter Chandrika, and his many friends and colleagues around the world in the publishing and entertainment business, which remained constants in his long and successful career.
Rai was appointed general manager of Al Nisr Publishing, the publisher of Gulf News, in 1988, three years after the paper’s relaunch in 1985. He played an important role in helping build Gulf News into the biggest newspaper in the UAE and the Gulf. In addition, he was a member of the UAE Chapter of the International Advertising Association, IAA, and worked hard to build the IAA across the Gulf region.
With his wife Lekha, he was a generous host, and was also an integral part of the social life of Dubai and Abu Dhabi as he represented Gulf News at many parties and functions. To this day, he is remembered warmly by his many friends in Dubai and the UAE.
Rai came to Dubai having been general manager of the India Today Group, during the heyday of the magazine business. He had been instrumental in expanding the company from its core political weekly magazine to include a range of new magazines, covering areas as diverse as computers, specialist children’s titles and a series of vernacular editions.
After leaving Gulf News in 1996, he rejoined the India Today Group as executive director for international operations, as he expanded India Today into the more global brand which it has come to be.
Later, he moved to New York as CEO of India Today International and represented the media conglomerate in television, publishing, music, art and radio. As publisher and editor of India Today International, his initiatives included launching the US, UK and Middle East editions to reach 105 countries. He was also responsible for the music label, Music Today, and enjoyed growing that business and launching a range of new albums.
He continued working till late in life from his New York home, enjoying launching his own company Cross Border Media. He only recently moved to Houston for hospital treatment of the leukemia.
