02 April 2025: Edstead, a leading research-driven documentary studio committed to impactful storytelling, has named Charu Budhiraja as its Chief Business Officer. With career spanning decades in branded content, content innovation, and strategic partnerships, Charu will play a key role in shaping Edstead’s business growth and expanding its influence in the media landscape.
In this role, Charu will lead business strategy, forge key brand partnerships, and drive revenue growth while ensuring Edstead’s purpose-driven storytelling reaches wider audiences. With an extensive experience in content creation and creative leadership, she will focus on expanding the studio’s impact by strengthening collaborations with brands, media platforms, and content creators to bring compelling, research-backed narratives to the forefront.
Speaking about her new role, Charu Budhiraja shared, “Edstead stands for storytelling with purpose—stories that challenge perspectives, ignite conversations, and create real impact. In today’s media landscape, authenticity and depth matter more than ever, and Edstead has built a strong foundation in this space. I’m excited to build on that momentum, foster strategic partnerships, and help scale Edstead’s reach while staying true to its mission.”
Shekhar Bhattacharjee, Founder of Edstead, welcomed Charu’s appointment, stating, “Edstead is driven by the belief that powerful stories can inspire change. Charu’s expertise in branded content and content strategy will be instrumental in amplifying our impact and expanding our reach. Her ability to bridge creativity with business strategy makes her the perfect partner as we take Edstead into its next phase of growth.”
Charu joins Edstead from Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), where she was a Creative Head, leading award-winning content initiatives across travel, lifestyle, history, education, and culture. Throughout her career, she has conceptualized and executed high-impact IPs, built brand narratives for some of India’s most iconic companies, and driven strategic collaborations that bridge storytelling with business growth. She has also held leadership roles at Discovery, Ogilvy, Creativeland Asia, and JWT, working at the intersection of media, marketing, and content creation.