MAM
BBC Worldwide wins outstanding export achievement award
LONDON: BBC Worldwide, the commercial consumer arm of the BBC, has been recognised for its Outstanding Export Achievement in the Trade Partners UK-backed International Business Awards.
The International Business Awards, a joint initiative between Trade Partners UK and Nexus Communications (publishers of Export Times) recognise the achievements of some of the best of British business, from successful new ventures to leading blue-chip organisations across the UK.
Being recognised with this major accolade – the equivalent of a lifetime achievement award for export – against strong competition from leading UK organisations reflects BBC Worldwide’s financial returns, strong growth, innovative strategies and market leadership over a three-year review period
Presenting the award to BBC Worldwide’s Director of International Television Mike Phillips the Minister of State for International Trade and Investment Baroness Symons said, “The last twelve months have been difficult for those engaged in international trade, but despite this many British exporters have persevered and gained valuable contracts for the UK. It is through the success of businesses and individuals that we are the world’s fifth largest exporter of goods and the world’s largest exporter of services. It is a great tribute to the strength, flexibility and resilience of those who have competed successfully in the global market.”
An official release informs that in the three-year review period – 1999-2002 – BBC Worldwide grew its turnover from ?514m to ?660m and its profit from ?9m to ?26m. In the last financial year (2001-2002) the company returned a record ?106m to the BBC. The company’s exceptional strength and growth was also recognised this year with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2002 in the international trade category.
Key factors in the company’s growth have been the launch of BBC channels, branded blocks, the re-versioning of programmes such as The Weakest Link and Top of the Pops for local markets, and joint venture partnerships, driving significant business growth in key territories such as the USA, Germany, Latin America and Canada.
Other major BBC properties that contributed to this success include the internationally acclaimed factual series, The Blue Planet and Walking with Beasts. Children’s properties such as Teletubbies and Tweenies continued to expand across media around the world. In addition to financial growth, all aspects of the company’s activities – from programme sales to corporate responsibility – were taken into account for the Award. The company had to prove best practice in the areas of: relationship with employees, suppliers, partners, customers and contractors; impact on society; relationship with local communities – at home and abroad; and impact on the environment
Brands
YES Bank hands the keys to SBI veteran Vinay Tonse as it bets on a new era
Former SBI managing director appointed as YES Bank’s new MD and CEO
MUMBAI: YES Bank is done rebuilding. Now it wants to grow. The private sector lender has appointed Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as managing director and chief executive officer-designate, with RBI approval secured and a start date of April 6, 2026 confirmed. The three-year term signals the bank’s intent to shift gears from crisis recovery to full-throttle expansion.
Tonse, 60, is no stranger to scale. Most recently managing director at State Bank of India, he oversaw a retail book of roughly $800bn in deposits and advances, one of the largest in the country. Before that, he ran SBI Mutual Fund from August 2020 to December 2022, a stint that saw assets under management surge from Rs 4.32 lakh crore to Rs 7.32 lakh crore across market cycles. Add stints in Singapore and four years leading SBI’s overseas operations in Osaka, and the incoming chief arrives with a genuinely global CV.
His academic grounding is equally solid: a commerce degree from St Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru, and a master’s in commerce from Bangalore University.
The appointment follows an extensive search and evaluation process by the bank’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee. NRC chairperson Nandita Gurjar said the committee unanimously backed Tonse, citing his leadership track record, governance credentials and ability to drive the bank’s next phase of transformation.
Non-executive chairman Rama Subramaniam Gandhi was unequivocal. “I am certain that Vinay Tonse, with his vast experience as a senior banker, will propel YES Bank to its next phase of growth,” Gandhi said, adding that the bank remains focused on strengthening its retail and corporate banking franchises and expanding its branch network.
Rajeev Kannan, non-executive director and senior executive at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the bank’s largest shareholder, said Tonse’s experience across retail, corporate banking, global markets and asset management positioned him well to lead the lender. SMBC said it looks forward to working with Tonse and the board as YES Bank pursues its ambition of becoming a top-tier private sector lender anchored in strong governance and sustainable growth.
Tonse succeeds Prashant Kumar, who took the helm in March 2020 when YES Bank was in freefall following a severe financial crisis, and spent six years painstakingly stabilising the institution, rebuilding governance and restoring operational scale. Gandhi was generous: “The bank remains indebted to Prashant Kumar, who is responsible for much of what a strong financial powerhouse YES Bank is today.”
Tonse, for his part, struck a purposeful note. “Together with the board and my colleagues, I remain deeply committed to creating long-term value for all our stakeholders,” he said, pledging to build on Kumar’s foundation guided by his personal motto: Make A Difference.
Beyond the balance sheet, Tonse played cricket at college and club level and represented Karnataka in archery at the national championships — sports he credits with teaching him teamwork, situational leadership, discipline and focus. In quieter moments, he reaches for retro Kannada music, classic Hindi songs, and the crooning of Engelbert Humperdinck, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar.
YES Bank has its steady-handed rebuilder in Kumar to thank for survival. Now it has a scale-obsessed growth banker at the wheel. The next chapter starts April 6.
