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Reliance Broadcast Network strengthens team with four key hires
MUMBAI: Reliance Broadcast Network Limited (RBNL) has strengthend its team with four new hires.
Manoj Lalwani has been named RBNL network chief marketing officer, whereas Renuka Iyer has joined as network sales & distribution head for RBNL.
Additionally, Amita Srivastava has come on board as national head – account planning for RBNL, whereas Bimal Unnikrishnan has been roped in as creative director for Big Magic.
Lalwani will spearhead the overall marketing function of the network including television and radio, while Iyer will be responsible for Network sales & distribution. Both will report to Reliance Broadcast Network Limited chief operating officer Ashwin Padmanabhan.
Strengthening the programming team, Unnikrishnan will oversee content creation for Big Magic. Srivastava in her new role will be responsible for account planning for the network.
Reliance Broadcast Network Limited CEO Tarun Katial said, “We are happy to have Renuka, Amita, Manoj and Bimal on board who bring with them a wealth of experience and immense knowledge in their respective domains. Together, we aim to create differentiated and unique offerings for our discerning audience. I am sure that the team will add to existing talent pool and will successfully drive the growth story of the group.”
Lalwani was with VLCC Health Care as vice president – sales and marketing for South Asia, prior to this.
Spearheading the sales function in leadership positions across digital and traditional platforms for close to 15+ years, Iyer has been associated with brands such as Zee News, Digital Radio Broadcasting Limited and Homeland Networks (USA). She worked with Zee News for 10 years where she was senior vice president (sales) and with Digital Radio Broadcasting Limited as national sales head before moving to Reliance Broadcast Network Limited.
Unnikrishnan has been an integral part of the television industry with over 20 years of experience. He was senior creative director and a key member of the Dance India Dance franchise. Prior to joining Reliance Broadcast Network Limited, he worked with Big Productions as head of non-fiction. He has also had stints with UTV as senior creative director as well as with Miditech.
With an experience of over 17 years in strategic media planning, Srivastava has managed communication solutions for brands across segments, from cosmetics and auto to finance and hospitality amongst others. Prior to joining RBNL, Srivastava was ZenithOptimedia vice president and was heading the Mumbai branch.
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.
