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InfoComm India summit’s headlining speakers to discuss smart cities, cyber security
MUMBAI: InfoComm International, the trade association representing the commercial audiovisual industry worldwide, has announced the summit program for InfoComm India, set for Sept. 12-14, 2016 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, in Mumbai. The InfoComm India Summit’s three days of sessions will focus on key issues in the pro-AV industry, with headlining speakers talking smart-city design and planning and cyber security.
Marking its fourth year, InfoComm India 2016 will feature an exhibition of more than 200 leading pro-AV companies, as well as the InfoComm India Summit where experts share emerging trends and in-depth market insights.
Dr. Uma Maheswaran, CEO of SurbanaJurong Consultants (South Asia and Middle East), will discuss the challenges India faces with its smart-city mission. SurbanaJurong Consultantshas worked on consulting, design/build, and facilities management projects in 229 cities spanning 47 countries and completed 72 projects across 11 states in India. The firm is also involved in the master-planning of Andhra Pradesh’s New Capital City. Dr.Maheswaran’s session is a chance for attendees to learn how this development could potentially be a model for other smart cities.
Dr. Madan Oberoi, Director for Cyber Innovation and Outreach at the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore, will speak on the need for recalibrating the law enforcement strategy to counter evolving cyber threats.With digital and information technology playing an increasingly important role in business, India, host to some of the world’s biggest IT service companies, is seen as a growth frontier in a perilous online environment. India’s vulnerability to cybercrimes has attracted both the public and private sector to take a hard look at implementing policies, laws and learn from global best practices to keep “Digital India” safe and secured.
The Summit program provides a forum for AV professionals to update their knowledge on the latest technology and market trends, from designing for visual environments to understanding the impact of the Internet of Things. To help institutional end-users better understand how AV technology can help their businesses, the program also features sessions designed specifically for the IT, education, defense and live-events industries.
“InfoComm India is the only event in India that brings together all the key stakeholders in the AV market — global manufacturers, their channel partners, and institutional end-users from the entire spectrum of industries that can benefit from AV technology,” said Richard Tan, Executive Director of InfoCommAsia, which produces the InfoComm India show. “We’re pleased to welcome so many renowned speakers from all over the world to lead our sessions andshare their knowledge and experience.”
Asia Pacific comprises 36.5 percent of the global professional audiovisual market, according to InfoComm’s2014 Market Definition and Strategy Study. The World Bank is forecasting India’s economy to grow 7.5 percent in 2016. With increased growth in the years to follow, India’s economy is the peak of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
“India presents an immense opportunity to develop an incomparable pro-AV and information communications technology infrastructure for decades to come,” said David Labuskes, CTS®, CAE, RCDD, Executive Director and CEO, InfoComm International. “In the last few years, InfoComm has taken big steps to support the AV industry in the Asia-Pacific market as we’ve seen the economy surge. InfoComm now has many resources in the region, including association staff, live courses, roundtable events, CTS exams and more.”
During InfoComm India, attendees can visit the InfoComm booth for in-person, one-on-one professional development consultations. At the end of the consultation, participants will receive a tailored plan of training opportunities not only from InfoComm, but also from others sources inside and outside the AV industry, including courses devoted to information technology and networking, as well as business management. Many of the education sources that are part of InfoComm’s offering deliver free and low-cost training.
In addition, the Women of InfoComm Network (WIN) council will hold its first event in India on Sept. 13 during InfoComm India. WIN provides women with a supportive environment to discuss their profession and educational resources to help advance their skills. The event will include prominent women within the AV industry discussing their experiences.
“The Indian AV market is growing very fast, yet there are very few women in technical and senior management positions,” said Betsy Jaffe, WIN Staff Liaisonand Senior Vice President of Member Services, InfoComm International. “WIN will be working in India to encourage women to join the AV workforce; and for women in the industry, we’ll provide resources and support to help them succeed in their careers.”
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Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
