MAM
CABSAT gains from growth in regional tech & media industry
MUMBAI: Spurred by the development of the regional technology and media industry in the region, the 10th edition of the Middle East International Cable, Satellite, Broadcast and Communications Exhibition (CABSAT) has registered a 27 per cent growth in the number of international exhibitors participating at the event according to organisers Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).
DWTC general manager exhibitions, leasing and operations, Abdulla T Qassem said, “We are pleased with the keen interest in CABSAT from the international industry which has been powered by the range of new business opportunities in the broadcast, communications and media technology fields specifically in the fields of new satellites, VSAT, digital compression and the sustained and healthy competition among pay TV and free-to-air channels that has opened up a plethora of new business avenues in the region.”
Qassem noted that a number of exhibitors from outside the UAE representing a total of 27 countries including Belgium (3), Canada (1), China (33), Cyprus (2), Czech Republic (1), Denmark (1), Egypt (1), Finland (1), France (10), Germany (33), Holland (3), Hong Kong (3), India (2), Iran (1), Italy (2), Korea (7), Lebanon (1), Malta (1), Saudi Arabia (2), Singapore (1), South Africa (1), Spain (5), Switzerland (1), Taiwan (8), Turkey (3), United Kingdom (38) and USA (4) have confirmed participation at CABSAT ’04.
Prominent among the big name exhibitors participating at the event from the different segments include Pinnacle, Seachange, Panasonic, Leitch and BT Broadcast from the broadcast and production sectors; Intelsat, Eutelsat, New Skies, Iris Sat, and Globecast from the communications sector; and Vestel, Triax, Aston, Kaon and Horizon Satellite from the cable and satellite sectors.
The latest trends and technologies fuelling growth of the cable, satellite, broadcast and communications industry will be under the spotlight complementing the main exhibition with a range of industry specific presentations including one organised by Luxsat titled ‘Video On Demand’ that marks the regional launch of Luxstation.
CABSAT is the pre-eminent show in the region for companies seeking to gain a firm footing in the region’s fast emerging cable satellite and communications sectors which forms the core profile of the event.
CABSAT in the past editions has provided participants with a unique networking opportunity to touch base with trade professionals and forge new links with organisations that can help further the corporate goals of suppliers who specialise in cable, satellite, communications and broadcast equipment and services.
Last year’s edition of the event witnessed deals, launches and business galore proving to be an impressive event drawing more than 200 exhibitors and over 4,500 trade visitors from around the globe and particularly from the GCC countries.
Brands
YES Bank hands the keys to SBI veteran Vinay Tonse as it bets on a new era
Former SBI managing director appointed as YES Bank’s new MD and CEO
MUMBAI: YES Bank is done rebuilding. Now it wants to grow. The private sector lender has appointed Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as managing director and chief executive officer-designate, with RBI approval secured and a start date of April 6, 2026 confirmed. The three-year term signals the bank’s intent to shift gears from crisis recovery to full-throttle expansion.
Tonse, 60, is no stranger to scale. Most recently managing director at State Bank of India, he oversaw a retail book of roughly $800bn in deposits and advances, one of the largest in the country. Before that, he ran SBI Mutual Fund from August 2020 to December 2022, a stint that saw assets under management surge from Rs 4.32 lakh crore to Rs 7.32 lakh crore across market cycles. Add stints in Singapore and four years leading SBI’s overseas operations in Osaka, and the incoming chief arrives with a genuinely global CV.
His academic grounding is equally solid: a commerce degree from St Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru, and a master’s in commerce from Bangalore University.
The appointment follows an extensive search and evaluation process by the bank’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee. NRC chairperson Nandita Gurjar said the committee unanimously backed Tonse, citing his leadership track record, governance credentials and ability to drive the bank’s next phase of transformation.
Non-executive chairman Rama Subramaniam Gandhi was unequivocal. “I am certain that Vinay Tonse, with his vast experience as a senior banker, will propel YES Bank to its next phase of growth,” Gandhi said, adding that the bank remains focused on strengthening its retail and corporate banking franchises and expanding its branch network.
Rajeev Kannan, non-executive director and senior executive at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the bank’s largest shareholder, said Tonse’s experience across retail, corporate banking, global markets and asset management positioned him well to lead the lender. SMBC said it looks forward to working with Tonse and the board as YES Bank pursues its ambition of becoming a top-tier private sector lender anchored in strong governance and sustainable growth.
Tonse succeeds Prashant Kumar, who took the helm in March 2020 when YES Bank was in freefall following a severe financial crisis, and spent six years painstakingly stabilising the institution, rebuilding governance and restoring operational scale. Gandhi was generous: “The bank remains indebted to Prashant Kumar, who is responsible for much of what a strong financial powerhouse YES Bank is today.”
Tonse, for his part, struck a purposeful note. “Together with the board and my colleagues, I remain deeply committed to creating long-term value for all our stakeholders,” he said, pledging to build on Kumar’s foundation guided by his personal motto: Make A Difference.
Beyond the balance sheet, Tonse played cricket at college and club level and represented Karnataka in archery at the national championships — sports he credits with teaching him teamwork, situational leadership, discipline and focus. In quieter moments, he reaches for retro Kannada music, classic Hindi songs, and the crooning of Engelbert Humperdinck, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar.
YES Bank has its steady-handed rebuilder in Kumar to thank for survival. Now it has a scale-obsessed growth banker at the wheel. The next chapter starts April 6.
