David Zakkam Joins JioStar as SVP Analytics & Data Strategy

David Zakkam has taken on a new role at JioStar, announcing his appointment as Senior Vice President – Analytics and Data Strategy in a reflective LinkedIn post that traced his professional journey and recent personal pursuits. Zakkam, who previously served as Director – Data Science at Uber, stepped away from the corporate world earlier this year for a short, self-declared retirement. During this time, he immersed himself in AI training, performed music, and made progress on writing a book  passions he says will now resume on weekends as he returns to full-time leadership.

In his post, Zakkam described JioStar  which has now crossed 1 billion downloads  as an OTT giant still brimming with untapped potential in monetisation, engagement, and content intelligence. He wrote that the opportunity to shape how data and analytics power the platform’s next phase of growth was “too compelling to pass up. ”Taking charge of analytics and data strategy, he aims to build JioStar’s competitive edge across recommendations, advertising, and content insights for audiences in India and beyond. “After years working with global tech giants, I'm excited to help build one right here at home,” he shared.

With more than 20 years of industry experience, Zakkam brings extensive expertise across technology, digital, and e-commerce ecosystems. Before Uber, he held senior analytics and data science roles at Meta, Swiggy, and Mu Sigma, along with a business development stint at Intel. His career has spanned India, North America, and EMEA, shaping him into a leader with global perspective and deep domain knowledge.