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Zeel company SugarBox makes senior level appointments
MUMBAI: Content distribution network (CDN) services provider SugarBox – in which Zee Entertainment Enterprises infused Rs 522 crore recently – has announced a series of appointments at senior leadership levels to take the company to the next level.
SugarBox has installed 200 CDN edge servers at key places of interest (PoI) – including public transport, public place, rural area, hotels and co-living spaces and malls – in nine cities which allow users to connect to a local wifi network. Users have to look for “sugarbox” in their wifi settings and connect, open their Zee5 or Freeplay app, register using their mobile number and stream and download movies and shows without buffering or data charges. The service provider counts Railtel, Hyderabad railway station, CMRL, CSC WiFi, Central Railway and NMMT among its partners.
Amongst these:
· Ashish Kulshresth who has come on board as business head. Ashish has over 20 years of strategic experience in strategic alliances, sales and marketing across edtech, e-commerce, telecom and media. Most recently, he was the VP – partnerships & online growth at WhiteHat Jr. At SugarBox, he will take up P&L responsibility and oversee the network expansion, as well as revenue functions.
* Ishan Choudhury is the growth head. With 14 years of experience across diverse strategy roles, including co-founding a hyperlocal services venture, he brings a balance of start-up exposure and key insights from running micro-ventures in large enterprises like Jio. He joins SugarBox from Weddingz, where he worked as the director of customer strategy. He will be responsible for driving strategic initiatives and customer traction for the company.
* Rupsa Sinha as the brand head. With 12 years of experience across consumer brands like ICICI and Thomas Cook, Sinha has undertaken the unique challenge of creating a category defining brand – aLL from scratch, prior to SugarBox. She will be primarily responsible for building the SugarBox brand and creating awareness for the unique value proposition and disruption that the company creates.
* Ashish Rana as the head of app partnerships. He has more than 15 years of experience, primarily across media & consumer businesses. He will be responsible for evangelism of SugarBox across digital industries with a key focus on OTT, e-commerce, fintech, edtech, mobility and foodtech.
* Vishwanath Kulkarni as the head of network rollout. He brings with him over 15 years of experience in the IT & Telecom domain, having been instrumental for the rollout of 2G, 3G and 4G networks for a telco in UAE and Reliance Communications. At SugarBox, he will own the network rollout and network maintenance function enabling the company to scale operations rapidly.
Says SugarBox co-founder & CEO Rohit Paranjpe said, “We welcome AK, Ishan, Rupsa, Ashish and VK to the team and I’m grateful for the rich and diverse experience they bring to the company. We are at a very interesting juncture in our journey and their arrival brings fresh energy, expertise and perspective that will be pivotal in our rapid scale-up aspirations. We have an exciting couple of years ahead of us as we kick-start our association with the Indian railways and these key appointments will play a vital role in shaping our future.”
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.
