Brands
Hong Kong to host 2026 Interpol general assembly
HONG KONG: Hong Kong will host the 94th Interpol general assembly in 2026, bringing police chiefs and interior ministry officials from 196 member states to the city and underscoring its role in global law-enforcement cooperation.
It will be the first time the general assembly is held in the Hong Kong special administrative region and the third time in China, following Beijing-hosted editions in 1995 and 2017.
Xu Datong, vice minister of public security of China, said the choice of Hong Kong reflects confidence in the city and its policing institutions. The hosting rights were formally handed over at the close of the 93rd Interpol general assembly in Morocco last November.
Hong Kong police commissioner Chow Yat-ming said the decision highlighted Hong Kong’s position as an international “super connector” in global policing and reflected trust in the Hong Kong police force.
The Interpol general assembly is the organisation’s governing body, where senior law-enforcement leaders set policy priorities, approve budgets and coordinate responses to transnational crime, ranging from cyber fraud to financial and organised crime.
Hong Kong has long been active within Interpol as a sub-bureau under China, contributing expertise in cybercrime, financial crime and emerging security threats. Officers from the Hong Kong police force are regularly seconded to Interpol’s headquarters in Lyon and its Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore.
The force has also expanded cooperation with overseas agencies, particularly across Asean and Belt and Road countries, as it sharpens its response to cross-border fraud and financial crime. Its Frontier plus platform, launched in 2024, now links 13 jurisdictions for real-time intelligence sharing and fund interception.
Preparations for the 2026 assembly are under way, with Hong Kong authorities working closely with Interpol and China’s national central bureau to ensure smooth execution. Chow said the government aims to deliver a seamless experience for delegates and showcase the city’s openness, vitality and international character.
Brands
Radico Khaitan appoints Kunal Madan as chief marketing officer
Promotions signal focus on premium spirits, global expansion and homegrown leadership
UTTAR PRADESH: Radico Khaitan has elevated two long-serving insiders to its top leadership team, signalling a bold push into premium spirits and global markets. Kunal Madan steps in as chief marketing officer, while Sudhir Upadhyay takes charge as chief sales officer, both part of what managing director Abhishek Khaitan calls a consciously built next-generation leadership bench.
“At Radico Khaitan, our growth has always been powered by people,” Khaitan said. “True leadership is not imported, it is cultivated.” He added that empowering internal talent ensures continuity while keeping the company globally competitive and future-ready.
Madan, with over 20 years of experience across global sales and marketing, will drive brand architecture, marketing strategy, and the premiumisation agenda, including travel retail. Upadhyay, who has 25 years in the industry and was most recently national sales head, will oversee distribution expansion and execution across markets.
The leadership reshuffle comes amid Radico’s intensified focus on premium spirits, a segment driving higher margins and international growth. Last year, Ajay Kakkar was brought on to head the Premium On-Trade vertical, targeting modern and institutional channels to boost presence in high-growth segments.
Meanwhile, Amar Sinha stepped down as chief operating officer after contributing across multiple growth phases. Khaitan acknowledged Sinha’s role in supporting the company’s trajectory, while Sinha described his tenure as “an absolute privilege,” crediting Khaitan’s leadership for shaping the company’s strategic direction.
With a homegrown leadership bench and a clear premium agenda, Radico Khaitan is set to accelerate its global expansion while doubling down on brand elevation and market impact.
