MUMBAI: Chintamani Rao has resigned from the post of CEO of Rajat Sharma's Independent News Service (INS), which owns and operates Hindi news channel India TV.

While confirming his resignation, Rao refused to give any indication as to where his next port of call would be. "I will reveal my plans within the next four weeks," was all he was willing to offer.

Rao's exit comes close on the heels of India TV managing editor Rohit Bansal's elevation last week to INS COO. The post is a newly created one.

India TV chairman Rajat Sharma said , "India TV has achieved the big league in the Hindi News genre in the last one year on the back of innovative news programming and a strong distribution push. A strong team is ready andeager to achieve the next level in sales and branding."

Rao, an advertising veteran of more than three decades before he joined India TV said, "It will be very satisying to see India TV and brand Rajat Sharma becoming bigger."