MAM
How brands can take the sustainability leap
Mumbai: Rising global temperatures and environmental degradation has left the world on the cusp of major climate change. The slow, yet discernible impact of these changes has been seen across all major sectors, leading brands to make a conscious choice to protect the environment while catering to their consumers’ needs.
A recent BBC Global News study also revealed that 80 per cent of consumers in the Asia Pacific agree that demonstrating a commitment to sustainability adds value to the brand. Consumers expect action, not empty promises, from brands on sustainability. They are becoming ever more aware of their choices and expect brands to take responsibility towards following sustainable practices.
Some of these stories will take centre stage at the virtual webinar – ‘Taking the Sustainability leap’ being organised by BBC News in collaboration with Indiantelevision.com on 23 September. The hour-long event starting at 3 p.m. will witness insightful discussions with some of the leading brands who have taken the sustainability plunge.
“Without a significant change in current consumption and production patterns, the world will face strong environmental and economic costs such as those caused by projected climate change. Therefore, there must be a change in how we satisfy our needs if we want to achieve sustainable development and maintain the Earth’s capacity to satisfy the needs of future generations which consumers are becoming increasingly aware of,” said BBC Global News, senior VP, Commercial Development – Asia Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, Alistair McEwan.
The attendees will get an opportunity to hear inspiring stories from sustainability leaders across the globe, as they share case studies. This will include stories of building a fashion collection created by rescued luxury fabric, and much more. BBC will also share insights on forging an effective sustainability journey, and how brands can create a competitive advantage through innovative and sustainable marketing services.
The event will begin with introductory remarks from BBC Global News, SVP Commercial Development, Alistair McEwan. It will proceed with a panel discussion on ‘Leading with Innovation and Inspiration’ to be led by The R Collective founder and CEO Christina Dean, Climate Force founder Barney Swan, The Fabrick lab founder Elaine Yan Ling Ng, and Sophie’s BioNutrients co-founder and CEO Eugene Wang
Other key speakers at the event include Maruti Suzuki India, assistant vice president-sustainability and carbon neutrality G P Chaddha, Godrej Group, head-environmental sustainability Ram Vaidyanathan, Tata Consultancy Services, head of sustainability marketing, Preeti Gandhi, Lenovo, head of communications, Asia Pacific, Geneviene Hilton, and Honasa Consumer Pvt Ltd (MamaEarth) vice-president marketing Sambit Dash.
BBC Future Planet editor Martha Henriques will throw light on how BBC is doing its part of the sustainability of the planet. BBC Future Planet is the first major online publication launched in 2020, with a sole focus on climate change that also aims to be as close to zero carbon as possible. BBC StoryWorks APAC director Nicola Eliot will discuss how brands are partnering with the BBC to tell their sustainability stories.
To join the conversation, register: https://indiantelevision.com/events/taking-the-sustainability-leap/event-platform/registration.php
Brands
Apple CEO Tim Cook to step down after 15 years, John Ternus to take over
Leadership shake-up sees long-time hardware chief step up from September
CUPERTINO: Apple has confirmed that chief executive officer Tim Cook will step down from his role and transition to executive chairman, with senior vice president of hardware engineering John Ternus set to take over as CEO from September 1, 2026.
The transition, approved unanimously by the board, marks a carefully planned leadership shift at one of the world’s most valuable companies. Cook will remain CEO through the summer, working closely with Ternus to ensure a smooth handover before moving into his new role, where he will continue to support Apple and engage with policymakers globally.
In a memo to employees, Apple CEO Tim Cook reflected on his 15-year tenure, recalling the moment Steve Jobs asked him to step into the role. “It was an emotional and challenging moment for all of us at Apple,” he wrote, adding that the company’s core values, from simplicity and innovation to a commitment to improving lives, remain unchanged.
Explaining his decision, Cook said the company’s strong roadmap and future outlook made this the right time for a transition. “I have never been more optimistic about Apple’s future,” he noted, while announcing Ternus as his successor. He described Ternus as “a visionary in his own right” with “remarkable integrity” and the right leader to guide Apple into its next phase.
Cook said, “John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honour.”
Ternus, in his own note to employees, struck a steady, execution-focused tone. Ternus said, “It has been such a privilege to lead the hardware engineering team… I still plan to be very hands-on,” signalling continuity rather than a strategic reset.
As part of the leadership reshuffle, Ternus will step away from leading hardware engineering, with Tom Marieb taking over the role. Marieb will report to Johny Srouji, who assumes an expanded position as chief hardware officer, aligning hardware development more closely with Apple’s silicon and technology teams.
Cook also used his memo to thank employees, calling them “the most remarkable people in the world” and crediting them for building Apple into what it is today. A town hall has been scheduled at the Steve Jobs Theater to discuss the transition further.
The leadership change also sees Arthur Levinson move to the role of lead independent director, while Ternus joins Apple’s board.
Cook’s tenure has been defined by massive growth and expansion, with Apple’s market value rising from around $350 billion in 2011 to $4 trillion, alongside the launch of new product categories and a booming services business. Ternus, a 25-year Apple veteran, has played a central role in shaping the company’s hardware roadmap, from iPhone and Mac to newer innovations in materials and sustainability.
The transition signals a generational shift, but not a dramatic change in direction. If anything, both memos point to continuity, discipline and a belief that Apple’s next chapter will be built on the same values that shaped its last.
