MAM
Former BBC DG Dyke criticises cutbacks
MUMBAI: Earlier this month the BBC announced major organisation restructuring in the UK. As per the plan it will let go off of thousands of employees in order to save hundreds of millions of pounds a year.
Now the BBC’s former DG Greg Dyke has spoken out against the move saying that it would prove debilitating.
Appearing on the BBC show Newsnight Dyke claimed that he would have dealt with the situation differently. Dyke said that the 2,900 job losses which were recently announced could prove to be “debilitating” for the BBC and could affect the organisation’s creativity.
He said, “I think that the creativity of an organisation is based on the morale and enthusiasm and the energy of the staff. If you could make all those big cuts at one time then you could pick it up later. If you have to drag them out over three or four years it’s incredibly debilitating for an organisation.”
A report in BBC News states that the BBC is hoping to save £320 million per year, which will be put back into programme-making. Further cuts are expected in the New Year.
The vast majority – some 2,500 posts – will go from administrative departments including human resources, finance, marketing, training and legal services. A further 400 jobs will go in the corporation’s factual and learning department.
Dyke told the BBC Two programme that he could not understand the BBC board’s support of the job-cutting plans. “I find the position of the board of governors a bit odd because many of those governors were the people who sat there for the last four years supporting a completely different approach”.
Dyke went on to deny that if he had stayed in the job he would have faced a “new political reality” which would have forced him to make the same decision. “I don’t think that’s the case. Personally I find it offensive in some ways that you try to appeal to a Labour government by taking people who have got decent jobs – not particularly well paid, but not bad jobs – where they get pensions and they have proper support systems and the rest of it, and we want to take those things outside, often to organisations where you get none of those.”
MAM
PwC India announces leadership change in Deals practice
Shashank Jain steps down as co-leader after nearly three decades with the firm.
MUMBAI: When one dealmaker steps off the pitch, another is ready to take the baton because in the fast-moving world of transactions, the game never really stops. PwC India has announced a leadership transition in its Deals practice, with Shashank Jain stepping down from his role as co-leader to pursue an opportunity in the industry. The practice will continue to be led by Mohit Chopra, ensuring continuity and sustained growth momentum.
PwC India partner and leader for advisory dinesh Arora paid tribute to Jain’s contributions. “We deeply appreciate the significant contributions made by Shashank over close to three decades he has spent with PwC, particularly his defining role in shaping and strengthening our Transaction Services practice in India,” he said. Arora highlighted Jain’s support for clients through some of the most complex and significant transactions in the Indian market, noting his deep technical expertise, sound judgment and nuanced understanding of the evolving M&A landscape.
The Deals practice remains a key growth driver for PwC India, and the firm expects continued expansion under Mohit Chopra’s leadership. He will continue to guide clients through complex transactions and transformational business moments, building on the strong foundation established over the years.
Reflecting on his journey, Shashank Jain said, “I have had an exceptional journey at PwC. I owe my growth and learning to the nurturing environment and leadership development that PwC provided.” He added that he had been working closely with Mohit and the larger team to ensure a smooth transition and expressed confidence that Chopra would take the Deals practice to newer heights.
From intern to respected deals leader, Shashank Jain has clearly closed many successful transactions and now, it seems, he’s ready to strike a new deal of his own.
