MAM
Ajeenkya DY Patil University to host Inaugural Young Chef Young Waiter Competition 2024
Mumbai: Ajeenkya DY Patil University (ADYPU), known for state of the art infrastructure by providing quality education hosted the launch of much-acclaimed Young Chef Young Waiter (YCYW) 2024 on 18 January 2024 in Mumbai. Having encouraged and inspired the global hospitality community for over four decades, the competition is now being held for the very first time in India.
Inaugurated in 1979 in the UK in partnership with UK Hospitality and the Restaurant Association to promote hospitality as a career of choice, the competition has been supported by professionals in this field for over 45 years.
Restaurant Association UK chairman and president, Dr Robert Walton MBE said, ” The Young Chef Young Waiter competition has a storied history of discovering and celebrating talent in the hospitality industry. Hosting this event at Ajeenkya DY Patil University adds a new and exciting dimension, especially as we resonate with the university’s dedication to encouraging out-of-the box thinking. We keenly await new flavours and experiences from India.”
World Young Chef Young Waiter managing director, Sean Valentine said “The YCYW competition will be the perfect launchpad for young Indian talent to build global networks and learn from the very best. We want to spotlight India as a rising giant in hospitality excellence.’
The confluence of principles between the university and the Young Chef, Young Waiter competition is striking. Both organizations value ingenuity, innovative thinking, and a can-do attitude and aspire to nurture talent and encourage youth to consider professional culinary arts and hospitality pursuits. The competition thus intends to propel professional growth for young student chefs and service trainees by testing their skills under pressure and helping them learn from industry experts across the world.
Ajeenkya DY Patil University president and Chairman, Dr Ajeenkya DY Patil said, “We are thrilled to host the YCYW competition and join in the celebration of the rising stars in India’s vibrant hospitality segment. By providing a global platform for young talent, we hope to spotlight Indian culinary arts and service excellence while inspiring wider interest in this industry. We are proud to be associated with this initiative, and we look forward to seeing the extraordinary skills that young professionals will bring to the table.”
The competition will be judged by Chef Mario Perara and Chef Cyrus Todiwala, both highly acclaimed in their fields. It will start with an initial screening of applications, followed by India final and the finalist further competing at the world stage.
Celebrity Chef Cyrus Todiwala OBE DL, Café Spice, United Kingdom said, “Indian cuisine and service standards have made their mark globally. In fact, the country has seen praiseworthy growth in culinary excellence and service standards in the last decade. We are delighted to bring this global competition to India to celebrate the immense potential of local talent on the world stage.”
The Dorchester executive chef Mario Pereira said, “I’m thrilled to judge the creative talents of India’s next generation of hospitality heroes. This is a great opportunity for them to show the world that they have what it takes to leave a mark on the hospitality industry worldwide,”
Registration for the competition will open on January 18 and continue until June 15.
Aspiring participants can register themselves on https://youngchefyoungwaiter.com/india.
Brands
FSS names Anand Krishnamurthi head of global digital delivery
Tech veteran to drive AI-first, cloud-led transformation in payments globally
CHENNAI: Financial Software and Systems (FSS), an AI-first payment infrastructure company, has appointed Anand Krishnamurthi as head of global digital delivery.
In his new role, Anand Krishnamurthi will lead FSS’s global digital delivery capabilities, focusing on AI-first and cloud-led transformation while ensuring predictable, high-quality outcomes for customers worldwide. He will be based in Chennai and report to V. Balasubramanian, CEO of FSS.
Bringing 28 years of experience in technology and digital transformation across banking, capital markets, financial services, and insurance, Anand has held senior leadership positions at Cognizant and NuSummit. He is recognised for scaling multi-geography delivery teams, leading mission-critical platforms, and embedding AI-driven automation in complex, regulated environments.
“What drew me to FSS is its deep payments expertise, strong product DNA, and the scale at which its platforms power real-world financial ecosystems,” said Anand Krishnamurthi. “I aim to strengthen delivery predictability, execution rigor, and engineering quality, building empowered teams that deliver measurable customer outcomes. FSS has a unique opportunity to create real-time, AI-infused payments infrastructure that is resilient, secure, and globally scalable.”
V. Balasubramanian added, “Anand’s track record in leading multi-geography delivery programs and AI-first operating models makes him the ideal leader for FSS as we accelerate our AI-driven digital payments business. His leadership will help us raise the bar for outcomes globally.”
This appointment is part of FSS’s broader push to build an AI-powered, cloud-native delivery organisation capable of meeting the evolving needs of banks, fintechs, and financial institutions worldwide.
