MAM
Bridgestone India’s MD Parag Satpute dons global role
Mumbai: Tyres and sustainable mobility solutions provider Bridgestone India has announced that its managing director, Parag Satpute, will be assuming a new global role in Bridgestone’s Solutions business and will be stationed in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He is succeeded by Stefano Sanchini, who will assume Satpute’s role at Bridgestone India. These leadership changes will be effective 1 January 2023 onwards.
Satpute assumed the role of managing director of Bridgestone India in November 2017. It was during his tenure that Bridgestone India reinforced its position in the Indian market and gained a leadership position. In recent years, the company has expanded its operations in terms of capacity as well as expertise, launching a solutions business and tyre-as-a-service for its customers.
On his move into a global role, Satpute said, “It has been an enriching experience heading Bridgestone India and working alongside a dedicated team that saw Bridgestone India gain leadership in the Indian market. The last few years have been as rewarding as they have been challenging, and I am pleased to see the fruit of our efforts. I am also excited and looking forward to contributing towards Bridgestone’s ambitions as a global leader in mobility solutions.”
Sanchini moves from his current role as vice president for the region of the Middle East & Africa (MEA). He will take up the position of managing director, Bridgestone India, and will be based out of Pune, India. Sanchini has been with Bridgestone since 2017 as sales director for MEA and was appointed vice president of region for MEA in 2019.
“I am looking forward to working in India. India is one of the most diverse markets, and it comes with its own challenges, which the current team has remarkably addressed. As we move into new technologies and mobility solutions, the Indian market is going to be a focus area, and I am happy to be here as we spread out these solutions to the vast Indian customer base,” said Sanchini.
Brands
Buffett bets on The New York Times, cuts Amazon stake
Berkshire invests $352 million in NYT, trims tech, and backs insurance, energy and consumer stocks.
OMAHA: Warren Buffett is famously a creature of habit, but his latest portfolio shake-up suggests even the world’s most patient investor knows when to change the channel. In a move that has sent the media world into a frenzy, Berkshire Hathaway has officially checked into The New York Times while largely checking out of Amazon.
Buffett’s firm snapped up roughly 5.1 million shares in The New York Times Company, a stake valued at a cool $352 million. The Buffett effect was immediate: shares in the publishing giant jumped more than 10 per cent as investors scrambled to follow the leader.
While Buffett offloaded his traditional local newspapers back in 2020, this isn’t a nostalgic trip to the printing press. The New York Times is now a digital powerhouse, fueled by a buffet of subscriptions covering everything from breaking news to Wordle and recipes. It seems the sage of Omaha still has an appetite for businesses with pricing power and a loyal following.
Berkshire slashed its holdings in Amazon by nearly 75 per cent during the final quarter of the year. Once a rare foray into the world of big tech for Buffett, the firm now holds a relatively modest 2.3 million shares. The pruning did not stop there, as other household names also saw a haircut. Apple was reduced to a 1.5 per cent position, while Bank of America was trimmed to 7.1 per cent, signalling a broader pullback from some of its large financial and technology bets.
So, where is the money going? It appears Buffett is heading back to basics, favoring sectors that can weather a storm. Berkshire boosted its positions in Chubb, doubling down on the steady world of insurance; Chevron, fueling up on energy; and Domino’s Pizza, a classic consumer bet that delivers even when the economy doesn’t.
By pivoting toward resilient industries and subscription-heavy media, Berkshire is returning to its roots: finding companies that people simply cannot live without, whether they are hungry for a slice of pepperoni or the morning headlines.
