MAM
Imax expands partnership with Africa’s largest exhibitor
MUMBAI: Imax Corporation and Ster-Kinekor Theatres, a division of Primedia, have inked an agreement for two additional Imax theatres.
The first Imax theatre will be added to the exhibitor’s upcoming multiplex at the Baywest Mall in Port Elizabeth, with a second to be added to an existing multiplex at the Cradlestone Mall in Johannesburg. The deal brings Ster-Kinekor’s Imax footprint to six theatres with three currently open in Durban, Pretoria and Cape Town and another slated to open in Johannesburg.
“It is our aim to pioneer the advancement of cinema across South Africa as well as Africa, to ensure that consumers get to experience movies the way they were meant to be. Imax is a key enabler of this strategy and we’re delighted to expand our relationship, which is directly related to our complexes’ incremental box office as a result of Imax,” said Ster-Kinekor marketing executive Doug Place.
“In just 15 months, Ster-Kinekor opened its first Imax theatre and, building on its success, has since gone on to expand its Imax commitment to six theatres in the very important South African market. As the industry leader in Africa, with a presence in five countries, Ster-Kinekor is actively growing its network as evidenced by its new build in Port Elizabeth. As an extraordinary operator and Imax brand ambassador, Ster-Kinekor is the perfect partner to help us grow our business in Africa,” added Imax EMEA president Andrew Cripps.
MAM
Beacon Group appoints Dr Rajesh Patel as Group CEO
36-year healthcare veteran to lead Beacon Diagnostics, Vector Biotek, Biogeny.
MUMBAI: A new chief, a fresh diagnosis and a sharper prescription for growth. Beacon Group has appointed Dr Rajesh Patel as its Group Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1, 2026, signalling a decisive push to scale its presence in the diagnostics and IVD space. Patel steps into the role with 36 years of experience across the healthcare and diagnostics industry, bringing a career shaped by leadership roles spanning sales, marketing, business development and operational strategy. His mandate is both expansive and precise: to steer the group’s overall strategic direction while tightening coordination across its three core entities Beacon Diagnostics, Vector Biotek and Biogeny Diagnostics.
In practical terms, that means driving cross-company synergies, accelerating market expansion and strengthening organisational capability areas increasingly critical as diagnostic players compete for scale in a fragmented yet rapidly evolving healthcare ecosystem. The group is positioning itself to capture unmet demand across chain laboratories, key accounts and standalone labs, segments that remain underserved despite growing diagnostic needs.
The appointment comes at a time when the In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) sector in India is entering a more competitive and innovation-led phase, with companies focusing not just on product pipelines but also on service delivery, integration and customer-centric models. Beacon’s leadership appears to be betting that Patel’s execution-focused approach can help translate ambition into operational momentum.
Welcoming the appointment, Chairman Dr D K Joshi described Patel’s induction as a strategic move aligned with the group’s long-term vision, emphasising the role of leadership depth in navigating the next phase of growth.
For Beacon Group, the message is clear, in a sector where precision matters, leadership is the new differentiator—and this appointment is intended to set the tone for what comes next.
