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Philips appoints Bharath Sesha as MD for the Indian subcontinent
Mumbai: Philips announced the appointment of Bharath Sesha as managing director for the Philips Indian subcontinent, effective 1 September 2024.
In this role, Bharath will spearhead Philips’ growth strategy in India, with a strong focus on enhancing customer satisfaction and driving operational excellence. He will manage the healthcare business headquartered in Gurgaon and hold responsibility for Philips’ licence to operate in India, which includes the Philips Innovation Campus (PIC) in Bangalore, the Healthcare Innovation Centre (HIC) in Pune, and Global Business Services (GBS) in Chennai.
Bharath succeeds Daniel Mazon, who was vice chairman and managing director for the Philips Indian subcontinent until 1 April 2024 and has since taken on a global role at the Philips headquarters in the Netherlands.
Bharath is a seasoned leader with over two decades of global experience, bringing a profound understanding of the Indian market, particularly within the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. His expertise spans strategic leadership, business development, and operational excellence. Prior to joining Philips, he served as managing director at Heubach Colorants India Ltd., Renowned for his ability to inspire and lead teams toward achieving world-class performance, he consistently delivers results while driving innovation. He holds a master’s degree in international management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and an MBA from the Institute for Technology & Management (ITM).
Commenting on his new role, Bharath said, “I am thrilled to join Philips and contribute to our mission of improving healthcare accessibility and affordability in India. I look forward to working with our talented team to bring our innovative technologies to address India’s unique healthcare needs. We will continue to collaborate with our partners and stakeholders to enhance our impact on the lives of millions by expanding access to quality care.”
Philips’ ongoing investments in India have been instrumental in solidifying the brand’s position as a leading healthtech innovator, while also enhancing its presence across the country. Key initiatives such as the new Philips Innovation Campus (PIC) in Bangalore in 2023 and announcement of a new R&D campus at the Healthcare Innovation Center (HIC) in Pune in 2024, have significantly strengthened the company’s operational footprint. These efforts have not only driven technological advancements but have also propelled India to the forefront of healthcare innovation and research.
MAM
Three senior OpenAI infrastructure executives join Meta
Key members of Stargate project move to rival amid aggressive AI spending race.
MUMBAI: Three key architects of OpenAI’s ambitious data centre plans have switched sides and joined Meta Platforms, according to people familiar with the matter. Peter Hoeschele, who played a central role in OpenAI’s high-profile Stargate initiative, is among the new hires. He is joined by Shamez Hemani, who focused on computing strategy and business development, and Anuj Saharan, another leader in the computing organisation. The Information first reported their departure from OpenAI on Thursday.
The moves come as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has pledged to spend aggressively on AI infrastructure. The company is projecting capital expenditure of up to $135 billion this year alone, with hundreds of billions more expected before the end of the decade to support its Meta Superintelligence Labs and new models such as Muse Spark.
OpenAI, which is pushing ahead with massive data centre expansion, had described its early lead in securing computing power as a competitive advantage. Stargate, originally announced last year as a $500 billion venture involving OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank, has since become an umbrella term for the company’s broader data centre ambitions. However, the project has seen recent adjustments, including a pause on its UK plans and the decision not to expand the Abilene, Texas site.
A spokesperson for Meta declined to comment, while Hoeschele, Hemani, and Saharan also declined to comment. OpenAI said it was grateful for the contributions of the three employees and remains focused on hiring talent for its infrastructure plans. The company recently brought in former Intel executive Sachin Katti to lead its industrial compute efforts.
In the high-stakes race to build the future of artificial intelligence, talent is proving to be as valuable as computing power itself. Meta’s latest hires suggest the competition for top infrastructure minds is intensifying, even as OpenAI continues to scale its own ambitious projects. The move highlights how quickly the AI talent war is heating up across Silicon Valley.
