ITV News
Series Mania Forum adds Prime Video and HBO Max keynotes
Nicole Morganti, Thomas Dubois and Sarah Aubrey to speak on 24 March 2026.
MUMBAI: Series Mania just stacked its Forum deck with streaming royalty because when Prime Video and HBO Max share the stage, even the subtitles start feeling dramatic. Laurence Herszberg, founder and general director of Series Mania, today confirmed two major keynotes for the Series Mania Forum (March 24–26), the industry arm of the festival (March 20–27). Following earlier announcements with Disney+ EMEA, Skyshowtime and Fremantle, the new sessions feature senior programming executives from Prime Video and HBO Max.
On Tuesday 24 March at 15:00, Nicole Morganti (head of originals Southern Europe) and Thomas Dubois (Head of French Originals) from Prime Video will deliver “International Stories, Global Communities”. They will showcase the streamer’s 2026 non-English International Originals that are building passionate young adult fandoms across borders, share insights on creating global hits in 2026 and offer exclusive sneak peeks of upcoming European titles.
At 16:00 the same day, HBO Max head of original programming Sarah Aubrey for will present “Local Creators Are At The Heart”. Aubrey will explore how the platform partners with regional talent to develop bold, culturally specific series that reflect HBO’s storytelling legacy while giving creators freedom to take risks, and discuss what this means for the future of premium scripted content globally.
Herszberg said, “Sarah, Nicole and Thomas stand among the most influential voices driving the evolution of global television today. We are thrilled to host them in Lille, where they will present their strategic visions for HBO Max and Prime Video, respectively, offering invaluable perspective on the rapidly shifting international marketplace and what audiences worldwide can expect in 2026.”
The additions reinforce Series Mania Forum as a key platform for industry leaders to outline strategies amid evolving viewing habits and the rise of international originals. In a year where borders blur faster than plot twists, Lille isn’t just hosting talks, it’s hosting the conversation that decides what the next global binge will look like.
ITV News
Sonata Software CEO Samir Dhir to exit, Rajsekhar Datta Roy named successor
Samir Dhir steps down after tenure, to stay on as advisor till December 2026
BENGALURU: Sonata Software Limited has announced a leadership transition, appointing Rajsekhar Datta Roy as chief executive officer, effective May 9, 2026, for a three-year term. He will lead the company’s international business as it sharpens its focus on AI-led transformation.
Roy, a long-time company veteran, brings over three decades of experience in scaling technology practices and managing global delivery operations for enterprise clients. He has played a central role in building Sonata’s Microsoft and Dynamics practices into key growth engines, while also driving strategy and large-scale digital transformation programmes.
Over the past year, Roy has been closely involved in steering Sonata’s shift towards becoming an AI-first organisation. He has led initiatives around the company’s responsible-first AI framework and contributed to the development of its Harmoni.AI platform, alongside efforts to improve operational margins through tech-driven efficiencies.
Prior to this elevation, Roy served as chief delivery officer, overseeing global delivery and operations, and was a key member of the executive leadership team shaping the company’s transformation roadmap.
The transition follows the exit of Samir Dhir, who will step down as managing director and CEO at the close of business on May 8, 2026. He has also resigned as executive director but will continue as an advisor to the board until December 31, 2026, ensuring continuity during the transition.
The board acknowledged Dhir’s tenure, noting that under his leadership, Sonata strengthened its position as a strategic partner for clients and advanced into its next phase of growth.
Sonata Software Limited executive vice chairman Srikar Reddy said, “Raj’s promotion to CEO underscores our confidence in his leadership and strong technology vision. His deep understanding of Sonata Software will help us continue building an innovative and trusted organisation.”
Sonata Software Limited chief executive officer Rajsekhar Datta Roy added, “I am honoured to step into this role and lead the company’s international business. Our focus will remain on strengthening core capabilities and accelerating AI-led modernisation journeys for our clients.”
With this leadership change, Sonata Software is signalling continuity with a forward-looking tilt, betting on internal leadership and AI capabilities to power its next phase of global growth.
