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Disney’s Dana Walden rejigs senior team
Mumbai: At the onset of February, Dana Walden was upped to co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, thus making her in charge of the company’s TV networks, with the return of Bob Iger as Disney’s CEO. In her first big decision, Walden has now reshuffled the team – John Landgraf and Simran Sethi have been handed over additional responsibilities.
Landgraf, who has a long association with FX, has added brands such as Nat Geo and Onyx Collective to his purview. Onyx remains a major Disney priority and will continue to be run by Tara Duncan with her sole focus being on the same. Keeping that in mind, Duncan’s Freeform programming responsibilities will shift to Sethi, who will uphold her role at ABC Entertainment as well.
For Sethi, an Indian American, who is now executive vice president programming and content strategy for ABC and Freeform, the additional responsibility serves to be a homecoming to a younger-skewing brand that she helped to launch. She guides all of ABC’s comedy, drama and long-form series development, and is responsible for developing new content strategies for the network. Prior to joining ABC, Sethi held executive positions at Netflix, Freeform and NBC.
Sethi most recently served as director of International Originals – India and the Middle East at Netflix where she helped shape the launch strategy and steered the growth in the roster of Indian originals for the global streaming company. She will continue to report to Disney Television Group president Craig Erwich, who also counts Disney Branded TV president Ayo Davis as one of his direct reports.
Both Duncan and Courteney Monroe, who oversee Nat Geo, will report to Landgraf.
After Iger returned to Disney in a surprise move, additionally film veteran Alan Bergman who previously served as chairman of Disney Studios Content, was given joint oversight, along with Walden, of the company’s global film and TV content production operations which include Marvel Studios, Pixar, Disney+, Hulu, ABC, Disney Channel and other entertainment-related assets.
Debra O’Connell will continue to oversee networks and ABC owned television stations, and will add research, labour relations and TV business operations to her purview. Disney Television Studios will remain under Eric Schrier, who will expand his responsibilities to include global original television strategy.
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.
