MAM
Airtel Business appoints Harish Laddha as CEO-emerging business
Mumbai: Airtel Business, the B2B unit of Bharti Airtel, announced the appointment of Harish Laddha as chief executive officer for emerging business. He will report to Ajay Chitkara, director and CEO – Airtel Business, the company said in a statement.
Laddha will be responsible for identifying and leveraging growth opportunities in emerging categories such as the small and medium business (SMB) segment. He will lead a dedicated team to bring to market highly differentiated offerings for these emerging segments, it added.
Welcoming Laddha on board, Chitakara said, “As the Indian economy evolves over the next decade, the SMB segment, in particular, offers a massive opportunity to enable the digital transformation of tens of millions of traditional businesses. Airtel Business with its end-to-end portfolio is well-positioned to serve the requirements of these businesses. I am delighted to welcome Harish on board and am confident that under his leadership we will create sharper focus on the emerging growth opportunities.”
Laddha comes with over 25 years of experience, having worked in companies like Ingram Micro, Tata Communications, and Tech Pacific. He is an alumnus of Narsee Monjee Institute of Management and holds a bachelor’s degree in electronics and telecommunication from MIT, Pune.
Brands
HP launches Smart Champs learning game show with JioStar for students
Sanya Malhotra hosts quiz series blending fun, learning and prizes
NEW DELHI: HP India has teamed up with JioStar to launch HP Smart Champs, a new learning-based game show designed to make education engaging for school students across the country.
Hosted by Sanya Malhotra, the 10-episode series brings together students from Grades 5 to 9, who compete in teams through quiz and puzzle-based challenges that test knowledge, logic and teamwork. The show will begin streaming on JioHotstar from April 11 and will premiere on Nick on April 18, with weekend episodes airing at 7 PM.
Powered by HP Smart Tank printers, the format integrates print-based learning into the gameplay, using worksheets, clues and visual problem-solving tools to encourage hands-on participation. The idea is to move students beyond rote memorisation and towards more applied, curiosity-led learning.
The competition promises high stakes, with winners set to receive a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, while runners-up will take home Rs 5 lakh. Additional rewards include HP AI laptops, Smart Tank printers and accessories, while the winning school will be awarded an HP Smart Tech Lab.
Speaking about the initiative, HP India managing director Ipsita Dasgupta said, “At HP, we believe nurturing India’s youth is key to the country’s progress, and technology plays a foundational role in enabling this. With HP Smart Champs, we wanted to create something beyond traditional learning, a fun-filled platform where curiosity, creativity and critical thinking take centre stage.”
On the show’s reach, JioStar head entertainment sales Mahesh Shetty said, “HP Smart Champs reflects how children today learn through exploration and experience. With Nick and JioHotstar, we are creating a multi-screen approach that is both engaging and meaningful.”
Highlighting the role of print, HP India senior director print Satish Kumar said, “The show brings print-based learning to life in an engaging format, helping students develop deeper understanding through hands-on experiences.”
The journey to the finale began with participation from over 1,000 schools across 26 cities, narrowing down to 34 finalists who will compete in a studio showdown in Mumbai.
With its blend of entertainment, education and technology, HP Smart Champs is positioning itself as more than just a quiz show. It is a nationwide push to make learning interactive, accessible and, above all, a lot more fun.
