MAM
Amit Kumar steps in as South City Mall’s executive director amid Blackstone-led revamp
MUMBAI: It’s not just the retail footfall that’s picking up speed at South City Mall—the boardroom is getting busier too. In a fresh power move after Blackstone’s acquisition of Kolkata’s flagship shopping destination, the mall has roped in seasoned real estate leader Amit Kumar as executive director.
Kumar will oversee leasing, marketing and operations at South City Mall, bringing with him over 20 years of hands-on experience in retail leasing, commercial real estate and mall strategy. Known for steering large-format retail assets into high-performing zones, he has previously held leadership roles across some of India’s top retail portfolios.
“South City Mall has always been synonymous to retail and lifestyle experiences in Kolkata. I am excited to be part of this new chapter as we work towards elevating the mall’s offerings, strengthening partnerships with retailers, and enhancing customer experiences. With the backing from Blackstone, the expertise of the team at Nexus Malls and South City Mall’s strong foundation, I look forward to contributing to its continued success and growth”, Kumar said.
His appointment is part of the ongoing overhaul under Nexus Select Trust, the retail arm of Blackstone in India, which now owns South City Mall. Nexus Select Trust president, operations, Jayen Naik welcomed the move, “South City Mall represents a significant part of Blackstone’s growing retail footprint in India. We welcome Amit to the Blackstone and Nexus Select Trust team, and we are confident that Amit’s leadership will further enhance its potential. His extensive experience in Indian Retail will help drive long-term value for both our retail partners and the shoppers of Kolkata”.
With Kumar now leading the charge, all eyes are on South City Mall’s next phase. Industry watchers expect a sharper focus on category diversification, tenant curation, and omni-channel retail experiences tailored to Kolkata’s evolving customer base.
The move also highlights Blackstone’s strategy of not just acquiring marquee retail assets, but doubling down on leadership and execution to unlock long-term value. As footfalls grow and competition stiffens, South City Mall appears to be gearing up for a retail playbook upgrade—with Kumar on the frontlines.
Brands
Amagi unveils AI tool to automate artwork for global streaming
New engine turns video into ready-to-use artwork across formats fast
MUMBAI: Amagi has introduced an AI-powered artwork engine designed to take one of streaming’s most tedious tasks off human hands: resizing and reworking visuals for every platform imaginable.
Part of its Amagi Now platform, the new feature uses the company’s Amagi Intelligence layer to transform raw video into fully formatted, platform-ready promotional artwork in a single workflow. In an industry where one title may need dozens of visual variants for Fast, OTT, connected TV and social media, the promise is simple: less manual grind, more creative breathing room.
Instead of starting with templates, the system begins with the content itself. It scans video frames, picking up cues like composition, emotion and narrative context to identify the one image that best captures the story. That chosen frame becomes the foundation for everything that follows, with editorial teams stepping in only to review and fine-tune.
From there, the engine gets to work. A single approved image is automatically adapted into multiple formats, from widescreen to vertical and everything in between, while preserving framing and complying with platform-specific layout rules. The result is a neat trick: consistency without compromise, and speed without chaos.
Crucially, the entire process stays within the Amagi ecosystem. Teams can add logos, overlays and title treatments directly inside the platform, while built-in controls ensure every change is tracked and approved without endless back-and-forth.
For media companies juggling global distribution, the implications are significant. Artwork that once took days can now be turned around in minutes, cutting down on repetitive tasks, rejection cycles and operational overheads.
Amagi co-founder and chief technology officer Srividhya Srinivasan, said the move is about more than efficiency. As the number of platforms multiplies, she noted, the final step of getting the right visual in the right place has become a bottleneck. By teaching AI to understand the “soul” of a story, the company aims to free up creative teams while keeping storytelling intact.
The feature is already available to Amagi Now users, with a broader rollout planned from the second quarter of 2026.
