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‘You packed my parachute’: Avinash Kaul’s farewell salutes Network18’s unsung thousands
The outgoing chief’s LinkedIn post skips the boardroom tributes and goes straight to the security guards, drivers and office boys who kept the machine running
MUMBAI: Most farewell posts by senior media executives follow a familiar script: gratitude to leadership, a nod to the team, a hint of what lies ahead. Avinash Kaul’s is not that post.
Writing on LinkedIn on his last day at Network18 Media & Investments, where he spent nearly 12 years rising to chief executive, Kaul bypassed the boardroom entirely and directed his most heartfelt words at the people furthest from it: the security guard who greeted him before the building was fully awake, the fleet staff who drove him to airports at ungodly hours, the office assistants, the housekeeping teams, and the administrators who, as he put it, “held ten thousand invisible threads so the rest of us could look organised.”
“You packed my parachute,” he wrote. “Every day. Without fanfare, recognition, or ever asking for it.”
It was a striking note from a man who leaves behind a considerable operational record. Kaul joined Network18 managing three channels and exits with responsibility for 20, alongside a publishing business, a growing connected television footprint, and what he says is the highest revenue and highest channel share in the group’s history. He was quick to deflect the credit. “Not because of me. Because of 4,000 people who showed up, every day, in every department, across the country.”
To content teams across India, he issued a reminder that carries some weight given the pressures Indian news media currently faces. “Keep being custodians of trust for 700 million people. That is not a small thing. That is the whole thing.”
To colleagues in revenue and ratings who found him relentless and hard to satisfy, he was unapologetic but generous. “There was never a single moment of ill intent in my heart. Everything I pushed you towards came from one belief – that you were stronger than you knew, and I was not willing to let you settle for less than your real capability.” Those who believed him, he said, flew. Those who did not taught him to be a better communicator. He was grateful to both.
On what comes next, he offered a hint wrapped in metaphor. Something is being built, he said, prepared for “the way you pack a bag before a long climb. Not out of restlessness. Out of readiness.”
In a media landscape that rarely pauses to acknowledge the people who keep the lights on, it was, at the very least, a different kind of goodbye.
MAM
Yes Madam introduces 0 per cent commission for pregnant service partners
Home salon platform supports over 7,500 beauty professionals with new welfare policy.
MUMBAI: When life gives you a bump, Yes Madam has decided the last thing a woman needs is a cut in her earnings. Yes Madam, one of India’s fastest-growing home salon and wellness platforms, has announced a 0 per cent commission policy for its pregnant service partners. The move aims to provide greater financial stability and flexibility to its network of over 7,500 trained beauty professionals during this important life stage.
Under the new initiative, pregnant partners will retain their full earnings with no commission deductions, allowing them to focus on their well-being while maintaining income continuity. The decision was prompted by a customer’s social media video that highlighted the experience of a pregnant service professional continuing to work. The customer suggested reducing commission and shortening travel distances for such partners.
Responding to the feedback, Yes Madam co-founder Mayank Arya acknowledged the concern and confirmed that hub restructuring to optimise travel is already underway in phases. He also announced the 0 per cent commission policy for pregnant partners and encouraged them to prioritise rest.
Yes Madam co-founder and CEO Aditya Arya, said the policy reflects the company’s commitment to open communication. “Our partners know they can reach out to us directly, and it’s this personal access that helps us build policies that truly matter,” he noted. “Introducing 0 per cent commission for pregnant professionals is a direct result of listening to their needs.”
Mayank Arya added that the platform has a responsibility to support partners at every stage. “This step is a small but important move in that direction. We actively encourage our service partners to prioritise their well-being and take adequate rest during this time.”
Yes Madam had previously introduced a 0 per cent commission model for its top-performing “Queen Partners.” Extending this benefit to pregnant professionals marks another step in strengthening partner welfare and building a more supportive ecosystem.
In an industry where beauty professionals often go the extra mile, Yes Madam is showing that genuine care should flow both ways especially when one of their own is expecting.
