MAM
Abhijit Sethi appointed as Howden India’s COO
Mumbai: Howden, the global insurance intermediary, has appointed Abhijit Sethi as the chief operating officer of its India operations. In his new capacity, Sethi will lead strategic efforts, overseeing nationwide placements, streamlining business operations, enhancing processes, and nurturing insurer relationships to drive sustainable growth and innovation.
Abhijit brings to the role his renowned dynamic leadership and strategic acumen, built over nearly two decades. Prior to joining Howden India, he played pivotal roles in crafting go-to-market strategies and structuring intricate placement programs at esteemed firms like Aon, Marsh Insurance Brokers, and Prudent Insurance Brokers.
With its trading license granted in 2004, Howden India now employs over 300 professionals across offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, and Hyderabad. As the sixth-largest broker in the country, it has established a strong reputation as a specialist commercial insurance broker, focusing on key areas like liability & specialty, agriculture, health & benefits, aviation, property & construction, and reinsurance. In 2022, Howden obtained approval from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) to increase its stake in Howden India to 100 per cent, underscoring the company’s dedication to cultivating a leading broking business in the nation. This commitment revolves around fostering enduring client partnerships, investing in talent, and advancing data and technology.
MAM
Raghu Rai passes away at 83, leaves behind iconic legacy
Padma Shri-winning photographer documented history across 5 decades.
MUMBAI: The lens may have stilled, but the stories it captured will never fade. Raghu Rai, one of India’s most celebrated photojournalists, passed away on April 26, 2026, at the age of 83. He breathed his last at a private hospital in New Delhi after battling cancer and age-related health issues.
His son, Nitin Rai, revealed that Rai had been diagnosed with prostate cancer two years ago, which later spread to the stomach and, more recently, the brain. Despite multiple rounds of treatment, his health had declined in recent months.
Born in 1942 in Jhang, Punjab (now in Pakistan), Rai entered photography in his early twenties, inspired by his elder brother, photographer S. Paul. Beginning his career in the mid-1960s, he went on to build a body of work that spanned more than five decades, contributing to global publications such as Time, Life, GEO, Le Figaro, The New York Times, Vogue, GQ and Marie Claire.
His global recognition took a decisive leap in 1977 when legendary French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson nominated him to join Magnum Photos, placing him among the world’s most respected visual storytellers.
Rai’s lens chronicled both power and poignancy. He photographed towering figures such as Indira Gandhi, Dalai Lama, Bal Thackeray, Satyajit Ray and Mother Teresa, while also documenting defining moments like the Bhopal gas tragedy later captured in his book Exposure: A Corporate Crime.
Over the years, he published more than 18 books, building an archive that blended journalism with artistry. His contributions were recognised early when he was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972 for his coverage of the Bangladesh War and refugee crisis. In 1992, he was named “Photographer of the Year” in the United States for his work in National Geographic, and in 2009, he was honoured with the Officier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government.
Rai is survived by his wife Gurmeet, son Nitin, and daughters Lagan, Avani and Purvai. His last rites will be held at Lodhi Cremation Ground in New Delhi at 4 pm on Sunday.
With his passing, Indian photojournalism loses not just a pioneer, but a patient observer of history, one frame at a time.
