Ambani's JioHotstar appoints ex-Uber exec David Zakkam as Head of Analytics & Data Strategy

JioHotstar has appointed David Zakkam, a seasoned data science and analytics leader, as its Senior Vice President and Head of Analytics & Data Strategy.

Zakkam brings more than two decades of experience across global technology companies, including Uber, Meta, Swiggy, and Mu Sigma.

At Uber, he led the Data and Applied Science team in India, steering growth across rides, delivery, and mobility, and working on early applications of generative AI. During his time at Meta, he addressed integrity challenges at a scale that affected millions of users. Earlier, as Vice President of Analytics at Swiggy, he helped strengthen the company’s data culture and expand high-impact decision systems.

In an internal email announcing the appointment, Bharath Ram, Chief Product Officer at JioStar, said, “In this role, David will partner with the business, content, marketing, ads, engineering, and product teams to find ways to unlock consumer and business value through data-driven decision-making.”

Zakkam, in his LinkedIn post, wrote, “The role is critical to helping the company reach its potential. The opportunity to shape how data and analytics fuel that journey was too compelling to pass up. I want to be leading the charge to turn data into a true strategic edge, from recommendations to ad monetisation to understanding what makes great content tick for India and beyond.”

Before joining JioHotstar, Zakkam served as Data Science Director at Uber, overseeing the company’s Mobility and Delivery operations in Bengaluru. He has also managed large analytics teams of more than 450 members and worked closely with senior clients in Europe and the United States. Zakkam is a graduate of IIT Delhi and IIM Calcutta.

Zakkam said that the opportunity to build advanced data capabilities and transform analytics into a strategic advantage for JioHotstar motivated him to return from retirement. He aims to enhance how the platform measures content performance, strengthens personalisation, and supports revenue growth across India and international markets.

JioHotstar operates under JioStar, a joint venture formed in February between Reliance Industries and The Walt Disney Company. The merger brought together JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar, creating one of India’s largest streaming platforms with a catalogue spanning Indian originals, international films and series, and a wide sports offering.