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Iyengar quits Disney, leads digital at Albertsons
MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company vice-president Narayan Iyengar quit this month, and joined Albertsons Companies as the SVP, digital marketing and e-commerce. Iyengar was the Disney VP (eCommerce and digital travel trade) from May 2015 to January 2017. Earlier, between September 2013 and May 2015, he was Disney’s VP — eCommerce & Digital Analytics.
Albertsons announced that Iyengar has been selected as the senior vice-president, digital marketing and e-commerce. In this role, Iyengar will be responsible for leading all aspects of digital marketing including loyalty programs, shopper marketing and the overall digital presence, as well as the e-commerce business, including home delivery.
“As a company, we’ve made significant investments in the customer experience over the last two years, from new technology that originated in our Culinary Kitchens and Technical Center to our comprehensive data and analytics platforms,” said Chief Marketing & Merchandising Officer Shane Sampson. “E-Commerce, digital and social media channels hold unlimited potential for delivering the kind of personalized service our customers want. Narayan’s expertise will enable us to deploy new service and marketing models to attract more shoppers and grow our business both in stores and online.”
Iyengar’s career spans nearly 20 years in e-commerce, digital and business transformation. He joins Albertsons from the Disney, where, as the VP, he built, enhanced and optimized e-commerce capabilities across an eco-system spanning 20 websites and apps. Iyengar has an MBA in management from Columbia Business School in New York, where he was on the Dean’s list, and an Engineering degree in Electronics & Communication from University of Mysore, India.
Prior to this, Iyengar was a leader in McKinsey’s Digital and Business Technology group where he focused on helping global firms drive business value using technology. He started his career as a software engineer with IBM Global Services in 1996, as a part of the e-commerce team, and subsequently held several technology delivery and leadership roles in different firms.
Iyengar said, “I look forward to working with Shane and the Albertsons leadership team across all 14 divisions to enable and enhance their core business by using digital tools across more product lines to personalize the shopping experience for customers.”
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.
