MAM
F1 sponsorship forum to take place in November in Monaco
MUMBAI: The Formula One Sponsorship Forum will take place in Monaco, France, on 16 and 17 November 2005. The Forum, which is backed by Formula One Management, is a meeting place for all of F1’s stakeholders to network, debate and close deals. In India, viewers can catch F1 action on ESPN Star Sports.
The F1 body says that it is clearly at a crossroads for the future which will have a big impact on the lives and business of everyone involved with Formula One. The conference will discuss many of these issues. The Shanghai International Circuit will be exhibiting and participating in the seminars as will the Circuit de Catalunya.
SKI And Company, which is the agency of record for General Motors Racing, is scheduled to speak on their measured media programme with A.C. Nielsen, the world’s leading marketing information company. SKI And Company CEO Chris Lencheski says, ““We are excited to see this forum come together especially as the industry consolidates to greater measured metrics and improved implementation of research based-sales”.
Michael Payne of Formula One Management, Jim Wright of BMW Williams, Josep Ramon of Circuit de Catalunya, Tim Crow of Karen Earl Sponsorship, Neil Duncanson of North One TV and Peter Harris of Vodafone are a few of the delegates and companies registered to attend.
During the two-day period, 40 seminars will take place and will be chaired by experts across a range of different sectors. All participants will be able to join in any of these workshops and contribute to open debates, some of which will be reported or televised. There will be an exhibition and demonstration area to demonstrate the very latest equipment, techniques, solutions and advances. Media partners for the event include Sport Business Magazine, Sportcal and Sport and Technology. The Forum no longer has any involvement with BusinessF1 magazine.
Simon Berger, who is the director of the Formula One Sponsorship Forum, said, “We have received positive encouragement from literally hundreds of business people involved in F1 and motor sport, many of whom have already committed to the Forum. There is so much to talk about the business of the sport, so much change taking place, and the timing of the Formula One Sponsorship Forum could not be more opportune. This is an exciting opportunity for key industry personnel to get together and interact in a very unique environment. As one key player surmised, the Formula One Sponsorship Forum will be to motor sport what Midem in Cannes is to the Music Industry.”
Brands
IndiGo names William Walsh CEO
Former IATA chief to take charge in August after Elbers exit, Bhatia steers interim
India’s biggest airline has moved fast and gone global. InterGlobe Aviation, which operates IndiGo, has tapped aviation heavyweight William Walsh as chief executive officer, subject to regulatory approvals, marking a sharp pivot as the carrier eyes its next burst of expansion.
Walsh, currently director general at the International Air Transport Association, will step down on July 31, 2026, and is expected to take charge by August 3. The appointment comes barely three weeks after Pieter Elbers exited the corner office, with Rahul Bhatia holding the fort in the interim.
The choice signals intent. Walsh brings decades of cockpit-to-boardroom experience, having led British Airways and later International Airlines Group, the parent of Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling. His tenure across carriers has been defined by hard resets, restructurings and cross-border consolidation—skills IndiGo may need as competition intensifies and scale becomes decisive.
Vikram Singh Mehta, chairman and non-executive independent director of IndiGo, said Walsh’s experience in managing large-scale airline operations and navigating complex market dynamics makes him well-suited to lead IndiGo in an increasingly competitive global aviation environment, adding that the appointment marks a new chapter as the airline scales in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets.
Rahul Bhatia said Walsh’s global perspective, operational expertise and customer-focused approach would be critical as IndiGo enters its next phase of expansion.
Walsh, widely regarded as one of the industry’s most influential figures, will oversee overall management and strategic direction, with a mandate spanning operational performance, network expansion, commercial strategy and customer experience. He is expected to work closely with the board and leadership team to sharpen IndiGo’s growth trajectory.
Walsh said IndiGo has a strong foundation and is well-positioned to capitalise on the evolving aviation landscape, adding that he looks forward to fostering a culture of excellence, innovation and sustainable value creation across the organisation.
A new captain, a bigger runway—and a market that rewards scale. IndiGo is lining up for its next take-off.
