News Headline
Intelsat CFO Michael McDonnell resigns; to join Quintiles
MUMBAI: Intelsat S.A. chief financial officer (CFO) Michael McDonnell has resigned from the company.
McDonnell is slated to leave mid-December 2015 and will join as executive vice president and CFO at Quintiles, which is a provider of product development and integrated healthcare services.
Intelsat has commenced the process of an external search for a successor CFO.
Intelsat CEO Stephen Spengler said, “Mike successfully led a number of strategic initiatives during his tenure at Intelsat, including our Initial Public Offering in April 2013 and the major reorganisation of our capital structure in 2011. We thank him for his contributions to Intelsat over the past seven years, and we wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
At Intelsat, McDonnell served as CFO since 2008. Previously, he held CFO positions at MCG Capital Corporation and EchoStar Communications (formerly known as DISH Network Corporation). Earlier in his career, he was a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP. McDonnell also served as a member of the board of directors of Catalyst Health Solutions, Inc., a publicly held pharmacy benefits management company. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Georgetown University and is a certified public accountant.
On joining Quintiles, McDonnell said, “I’m looking forward to joining Quintiles and working with its talented leadership team and finance professionals. I’m excited to get started on enabling the company’s continued growth and opportunity.”
Awards
Hamdard honours changemakers at Abdul Hameed awards
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.







