JOSEY PULIYENTHURUTHEL JOHN NAMED EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF MINT

As Mint approaches its 20th anniversary in February 2027, founding editor Raju Narisetti has hailed the appointment of Josey Puliyenthuruthel John as editor-in-chief. Reflecting on Mint’s legacy, Narisetti emphasised Josey’s ethics, leadership and continuity from the founding team, underscoring the enduring mission of rigorous, independent journalism in India’s evolving media landscape.

When Mint HT Media Ltd. marks its 20th anniversary in February 2027, its founding editor Raju Narisetti will be reflecting less on redesigns, partnerships or traffic milestones, and more on people. In a heartfelt note, he expressed delight at the appointment of Josey Puliyenthuruthel John as the new editor-in-chief of Mint, a newsroom he helped shape from its inception.  

Narisetti recalled that Josey was among his earliest hires when Mint was quietly preparing for launch in 2007. Even then, he stood out for his sharp news judgment, intellectual curiosity, calm leadership and, above all, an unwavering commitment to journalistic ethics. That last quality, Narisetti stressed, was the primary filter in assembling Mint’s founding team. Ethical journalism, he noted, is never easy, but it is especially vital in today’s climate of noise, pressure and polarisation.  

Mint was launched on 1 February 2007 with the mission of being an “unbiased and clear-minded chronicler of the Indian Dream.” Nearly two decades later, India’s story has grown larger, more consequential and globally relevant than many imagined. The need for fair-minded, rigorous, independent and deeply reported journalism, Narisetti argued, is greater than ever.  

One aspect of Mint’s journey that gives him particular satisfaction is its people legacy. With one exception, every editor of Mint after him has been drawn from the founding-era team: Sukumar Ranganathan, Sruthijith KK, Ravi Krishnan and now Josey. This continuity was not a planned succession strategy but a reflection of the strength of the culture, values and talent embedded in the newsroom from the start.  

In an era when the economics of newspapers remain challenging, especially in India where resources are tight and demands high, such institutional continuity matters. News organisations endure when values are transmitted through people, and Narisetti expressed gratitude that HT Media Group recognises this.  

Many of Mint’s founding journalists and editors have since spread across media companies, startups and leadership roles in India and globally, continuing to shape journalism in visible and invisible ways. For Narisetti, that diffusion of talent is the most meaningful legacy any founder can hope for.  

Congratulating Josey, he concluded that the new editor-in-chief inherits not just a great legacy but a mission that remains as relevant today as it was in 2007. As Mint approaches its 20th year, Narisetti finds it gratifying that the newsroom’s mission is still in capable hands.