MAM
Swedish Consul celebrates nobel minds in Mumbai
MUMBAI: It was a night where intellect met elegance as the Swedish Consul General, Sven Östberg, hosted an exclusive dinner reception in Mumbai to honour Nobel laureates professor James A. Robinson and professor David W.C. MacMillan. The distinguished duo were in the city to attend the Nobel Prize Dialogue, an event celebrating the power of knowledge and collaboration.
Held at the Swedish Residence, the soirée sparkled with conversations that blended science, diplomacy, and culture. From academia to industry, the guest list featured an impressive mix of leaders who came together to celebrate the laureates’ remarkable contributions, from advancing our understanding of political and economic prosperity to groundbreaking work in chemistry and medicine.
Adding gravitas to the evening, the Government of Maharashtra’s minister for marketing and protocol Jayakumar Jitendrasinh Rawal, extended a warm welcome to the guests. Nobel Foundation’s executive director Hanna Stjärne, followed with reflections on how scientific dialogue continues to shape solutions to the world’s most urgent challenges.
The event was also attended by the Swedish Ambassador to India, Jan Thesleff, alongside industry stalwarts and members of the diplomatic corps. Hindi cinema’s swedish-born star, Elli Avram, added a dash of glamour to the intellectually charged gathering.
Östberg, recalling his own stint as a Nobel attaché in Stockholm 25 years ago, shared how the experience deepened his belief in the values of innovation, fairness, and global cooperation, principles that, he noted, find strong resonance in a city like Mumbai.
The evening concluded with a lively exchange with the laureates, where guests gained rare insights into their inspirations, journeys, and thoughts on how science continues to shape humanity’s shared future.
Because when Nobel minds meet Mumbai’s spirit, the result is nothing short of brilliance.
Brands
Safex Group appoints Richa Malhotra as group chief financial officer
Former Standard Chartered executive to steer finance
NEW DELHI: Safex Chemicals has appointed Richa Malhotra as group chief financial officer, strengthening its leadership team as the company prepares for the next phase of expansion in specialty chemicals and global agrochemicals.
In her new role, Malhotra will lead the group’s financial strategy, capital architecture and governance framework as Safex scales operations across multiple verticals including branded formulations, specialty chemicals and contract manufacturing.
A chartered accountant and graduate of Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi, Malhotra brings more than two decades of experience in business finance, strategic planning, corporate banking and client management.
Before joining Safex, she served as executive director, financial markets at Standard Chartered, where she led teams across India and Sri Lanka and worked closely with large corporates, global subsidiaries and commercial banking clients. Her expertise includes capital structuring, treasury operations, risk management and financial markets led financing solutions.
Safex Group promoter director and joint managing director Piyush Jindal, said the appointment comes at a pivotal time for the company. “Safex stands at an inflection point as we build an integrated platform across branded formulations, specialty chemicals and contract manufacturing. Richa’s experience across global financial institutions will strengthen our financial discipline and help unlock value across the group,” he said.
Malhotra said she was looking forward to contributing to the company’s next chapter of growth. “Safex has built a strong reputation over 35 years with its focus on integrity, innovation and agricultural insight. I am excited to be part of the organisation as it expands its footprint in India and global markets,” she said.
The appointment comes as Safex continues to strengthen its financial foundations and scale operations internationally, positioning itself for future growth milestones.
