Shashi Shekhar Vempati

Shashi Shekhar Vempati is an Indian technocrat and media executive who served as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Prasar Bharati between 2017 and 2022. An alumnus of IIT Bombay, he was the first non-bureaucrat and the youngest individual to be appointed to the position since the broadcaster's inception. In January 2026, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Shri, the nation's fourth-highest civilian award, for his contributions to media, technology, and public policy.

Education and early career Vempati graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. He began his professional career in the private sector, spending 15 years at the technology firm Infosys.

In November 2025, he was appointed as an Independent Director on the board of the BharatGen Technology Foundation. A Section 8 company based at IIT Bombay, the foundation is tasked with creating sovereign foundational artificial intelligence models for India under the IndiaAI Mission of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

Board memberships and publications Vempati has served on the governing boards of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication and the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC). He is also the author of the book Collective Spirit Concrete Action: Mann ki Baat and its Influence on India, which examines the impact of the prime minister's radio program on national discourse.

Central Board of Film Certification (2026–present) On May 8, 2026, Vempati was appointed as the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), nearly a week after former incumbent Prasoon Joshi was appointed to lead Prasar Bharati.

Awards Padma Shri (2026)