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Amita Maheshwari quits Disney Star
Mumbai: After a stint of 13 years of service, Disney Star head of HR for APAC and India Amita Maheshwari has decided to leave to join an organisation outside of media space.
In an internal memo issued on Monday, Disney Star’s country manager of India and regional head of APAC Luke Kang, confirmed this development in the company.
Maheshwari joined Star India in 2009 as a member of the core management team led by then-CEO Uday Shankar, which led to a strong business performance and YOY growth of more than tenfold over ten years.
She diversified and upgraded Star’s talent pool across the organisation, ensuring her consistent effort to drive organisational growth by defining the right HR and talent strategy, attracting the best and most diverse talent, building strong HR systems, and creating innovative HR solutions with a perfect blend of technology, many of which were industry firsts. Maheshwari’s unwavering dedication to Disney and Star has raised the bar for HR and talent in the company and industry.
She was promoted to HR Head of Disney across APAC and India following the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney in March 2019. She led the integration and transitions of Disney and Fox organisations across the region, effectively managing tremendous change while keeping employees at the centre.
Maheshwari’s played a key role in attracting critical senior talent and making Star the talent powerhouse it is today. She has also established very strong DE&I practises in the country. She managed some key transitions and acquisitions in India, including Sports, Maa TV, MediaPro, and Star CJ, to name a few.
Some of the company’s key initiatives, including the launches of Disney+ Hotstar and Disney+ across APAC and India in multiple markets, have been led by Maheshwari.
In 2021, Economic Times named her “HR Leader of the Year.”
With close to 28 years of experience encompassing senior leadership positions across various industries, Maheshwari has seamlessly and successfully managed many mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, and transitions globally. Prior to Star, Maheshwari has worked in diverse organisations such as Asian Paints, GE Capital, Genpact, and MetLife India Insurance.
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.
