MAM
Mashreq chooses Jyothi Bhatula as MGN India MD
MUMBAI: Indian women executives have been making their mark in the world of finance like never by leading banks and what have you. Now, here’s another one who has joined the pack of women financial leaders.
Jyothi Bhatula has been appointed as the global head of Mashreq Global Network (MGN) as well as managing director of MGN India,. In her new role, Jyothi will oversee the operations of MGN’s distributed workforce platform across India, Pakistan, and Egypt, ensuring it continues to deliver dynamic, high-quality talent and services to support Mashreq’s strategic, digital, and operational goals. MGN is part of the Mena-based financial services group Mashreq.
With a professional career spanning over 20 years, Jyothi brings extensive experience in banking and technology services. Prior to joining Mashreq, she served as the chief operating officer for UBS India Service, where she also managed India operations and the technology divisions, playing a key role in integrating Credit Suisse into UBS. Previously, Jyothi held leadership roles in Singapore and India at Credit Suisse, where she managed global programs and enhanced operational efficiencies.
Mashreq group head of operations Mark Edwards, said: “Jyothi’s extensive experience in banking, technology services, and leadership equips her to drive MGN’s continued evolution as a strategic enabler of Mashreq’s global operations. With her expertise and proven track record, we are confident that MGN will continue to advance as a world-class talent and services platform, enabling Mashreq to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions to its customers globally.”
Added Jyothi: “Mashreq is an institution with a remarkable legacy in banking and financial services. Mashreq’s commitment to driving innovation, operational excellence, and digital transformation is truly inspiring and resonates with my professional journey. I look forward to working closely with the talented teams at MGN and Mashreq to enhance our distributed workforce platform further, ensuring it remains a strategic enabler of the bank’s global vision and growth.”
Jyothi’s entrepreneurial spirit is also reflected in her tenure as the owner and operator of two restaurants in Mumbai. She holds a degree in electronics engineering from JNTU Hyderabad and an MBA from NUS Business School.
MAM
Paramount set to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in $81 billion deal
Shareholders back merger, combined entity could reshape streaming and studios.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… consolidation, Hollywood’s latest blockbuster might be happening off-screen. Shareholders of Warner Bros. Discovery have voted in favour of selling the company to Paramount in a deal valued at $81 billion rising to nearly $111 billion including debt setting the stage for one of the biggest shake-ups in modern media. The proposed merger, still subject to regulatory approvals, would bring together a vast portfolio spanning HBO Max, CNN, and franchises such as Harry Potter under the same umbrella as Paramount’s own heavyweights, including Top Gun and CBS.
At the heart of the deal is streaming scale. Executives have indicated plans to combine HBO Max and Paramount+ into a single platform, potentially creating a stronger challenger to giants like Netflix and Amazon’s Prime Video. Current market data suggests HBO Max holds around 12 per cent of US on-demand subscriptions, compared to Paramount+’s 3 per cent, together still trailing Netflix’s 19 per cent and Disney’s combined 27 per cent via Disney+ and Hulu.
Paramount CEO David Ellison has signalled that while platforms may merge, HBO’s creative identity will remain intact, stating the brand should “stay HBO” even within a broader ecosystem.
Beyond streaming, the deal would redraw the map for film production. Combining two of Hollywood’s oldest studios Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros., the new entity aims to scale output to over 30 films annually, while maintaining a 45-day theatrical window. Warner Bros. currently commands around 21 per cent of the US box office, compared to Paramount’s 6 per cent, underscoring the strategic weight of the acquisition.
But scale comes with scrutiny. Critics warn that fewer players could mean reduced consumer choice, rising subscription costs, and potential job cuts as the combined company looks to streamline overlapping operations while managing billions in debt.
The news business, too, faces a reset. CNN would join forces at least structurally with Paramount-owned CBS, raising questions about editorial independence and positioning. The merger has already drawn political attention in the United States, particularly given perceived ties between the Ellison family and Donald Trump, though the company maintains that newsroom autonomy will be preserved.
If approved, the deal would mark another milestone in Hollywood’s consolidation wave shrinking the industry’s traditional “big six” studios to a “big four”, with Paramount joining Disney, Universal, and Sony at the top table.
In an industry built on storytelling, this merger may well become its most consequential plot twist yet.
