News Broadcasting
FremantleMedia promotes Olivier Gers
MUMBAI: FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide (FLW), the licensing division of FremantleMedia announced the promotion of Olivier Gers to FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, Americas executive vice president, as part of the continuing evolution of its ancillary rights business in the US.
In this newly created position, Gers will be responsible for all ancillary rights activities for the Americas (including North America and Latin America) including interactive, consumer products, telephony, live entertainment and sponsorship. Gers was promoted to this position from his current role of senior vice president, licensing and will continue to report to FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide CEO Simon Spalding.
Spalding said, “This is an extremely exciting time for us in the US and Olivier’s promotion marks the growing importance of this market for the division and the further opportunities offered by the broader territory. Olivier has made a significant impact on the growth of the business and I am confident that, with his great talent and experience, he and his team will be able to build upon FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide’s existing reputation and success and further strengthen our position as leading ancillary rights experts in the region.”
Prior to joining FremantleMedia, Gers founded and led two different start-ups. The first, Odaddy.Com, was a website that put parenting in ‘guy-speak’ and provided the first ever online community for fathers. Gers also founded and set up Fulcrum Group, a consultancy offering opportunity assessment, strategic repositioning and interim management services to overseas companies looking to increase their presence in North America. Among his clients were BBC Worldwide Americas, Broadway Video and the French online sports venture, Sport4fun SA.
From 1995 to 2000 Gers served as Vice President, Strategic Planning and Business Manager for the internet, entertainment and novelty divisions of Golden Books Family Entertainment. Under his direction these divisions became the company’s most profitable business areas, generating more than $50 million in revenue.
In addition, Gers revitalised some of the company’s most popular yet under-utilised properties, including Pat the Bunny and Poky Little Puppy, by beefing up merchandising, licensing, video and music.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
