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Warner Bros. Discovery names Shazia Fazal head affiliate sales, South Asia.
Nine-year journey comes full circle as she takes top distribution role
MUMBAI: Warner Bros. Discovery has elevated Shazia Fazal to head of affiliate sales, south asia, marking a full circle moment in a career that began with her watching the company’s content as a young girl.
Fazal, who completes nine years with the media major this month, moves up from her role as senior director, DTH, telecom and digital alliances. In her new position as head of affiliate sales, south asia, she will lead affiliate distribution across one of the company’s most dynamic and competitive regions.
Reflecting on the promotion, Fazal described the milestone as something even a scriptwriter might struggle to improve upon. Raised by what she calls a “fiercely feminist” father who encouraged her to “be yourself ferociously”, she has risen to head distribution in a field long dominated by men.
The appointment also underscores a broader cultural shift within the organisation. Fazal noted that 80 per cent of the leadership team she works with are women, a statistic that stands out in an industry where representation figures often tell a different story. She credited the environment fostered by India leader Arjun Nohwar for enabling merit, ambition and authenticity to thrive, and acknowledged the mentorship of Vijay Rajput in her journey.
Her career path reflects steady momentum. Fazal joined the Discovery business in 2017 as associate director, DTH, later moving through director, DTH and telecom partnerships and senior director roles spanning dth, telecom and digital partnerships. Following the merger that formed Warner Bros. Discovery, she continued to expand her remit across south asia.
Before her tenure at Discovery, she spent over six years at Sony Pictures Networks India, where she held multiple business development roles including deputy associate director, business development and senior manager, business development. Earlier stints at West Coast Group and Marketing Solutions Private Limited laid the groundwork for her expertise in partnerships and client relationships.
Leading affiliate sales in India means navigating a market that is as complex as it is fast moving, with traditional distribution platforms intersecting with telecom operators and digital players. For Fazal, however, the challenge appears to be part of the appeal.
Nine years in, she describes the journey in three words: growth, gratitude and grit. If her story reads like a well-crafted screenplay, the latest chapter suggests there are many more scenes yet to unfold.
Brands
ITC Sunfeast Farmlite launches Sugar Free Cookies range
New variants offer guilt-free indulgence for health-conscious snackers.
MUMBAI: ITC Sunfeast Farmlite is sweetening the deal for biscuit lovers who want to have their cookie and eat it too without the sugar. The better-for-you biscuits range from ITC Foods has expanded its portfolio with the launch of an all-new Sugar Free Cookies line, aligning with the company’s vision of ‘Help India Eat Better’. The range is designed for consumers who are rethinking sugar in their daily snacking but refuse to compromise on taste and indulgence.
The collection debuts with two tempting variants: Choco Nut Cookies and Hazelnut & Oats Cookies. Both are a source of protein and contain no trans-fat, while the Hazelnut & Oats variant is also lactose-free.
ITC Ltd. vice president (marketing), biscuits, foods division, Suraj Kathuria said, “At Sunfeast Farmlite, we believe mindful snacking should never come at the cost of indulgence. With this launch, we are catering to the growing need for guilt-free snacking while delivering a rich, satisfying cookie experience.”
ITC Ltd. vice president & head of food sciences for foods division Dr Shantanu Das added, “We have applied robust food science to develop cookies that are sugar-free while preserving the taste and texture consumers love.”
Each cookie comes in convenient single-serve packs to maintain texture and freshness. Both variants are available in 100g packs priced at ₹100 and can be found on quick-commerce platforms including Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto.
In a market increasingly leaning towards healthier choices, ITC Sunfeast Farmlite’s new Sugar Free Cookies prove that cutting sugar doesn’t mean cutting joy. For the health-conscious yet indulgent snacker, this could be the perfect bite-sized solution.
