Salman Iqbal, CEO of the ARY Group, recently shared the surprising story of how he took the helm of ARY Digital Network, now one of Pakistan’s largest television networks, during a special interview with Waseem Badami celebrating 25 years of ARY.
In 1999, Salman Iqbal’s life was focused on family, not the media. He had moved to London to care for his infant daughter, Summaya, who was facing serious health challenges. At the time, his family’s business was centered on real estate in Dubai. ARY’s founding was entirely unplanned for him. His father and uncle had acquired a television channel and needed someone to manage it.
”I asked them, ‘Why me?’ They said this is a clever industry which can be run by someone sharp like you. You can just do it for a month, then you can leave and we will hire a CEO for you,” Iqbal recounted.
He agreed to fill in temporarily, never expecting it to become his life’s work. What was meant to be a one-month stint turned into 26 years of leading the company. Iqbal admitted that building the network was not an easy job, but his family encouraged him to be patient with the business. Today, the ARY TV Network broadcasts around 10 channels, securing its place as a media leader in the country.
In addition to his role as CEO, Salman Iqbal is also the owner of the cricket franchise Karachi Kings and President of the World Memon Foundation.
