MAM
Yum! prez Aylwin Lewis elected to Disney board of directors
MUMBAI: Latest addition to the Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) board of directors Aylwin Lewis. Yum! Brands president, chief multibranding and operating officer was elected on 23 September, as a new independent director. The post is scheduled to be effective from January 2004.
According to Disney chairman and CEO Michael Eisner, as quoted in a company release, “The board was pleased to be able to recruit an executive of Aylwin’s caliber. He has been at the forefront of consumer tastes and trends for his entire 27-year career. We are confident that he will bring his substantial and deep global operational experience to bear immediately to benefit Disney shareholders.”
Lewis joined the KFC unit of YUM! Brands in 1990 as chief operating officer in 2000. 49, was named president, chief multibranding and operating officer in 2003. Before KFC, Lewis had experience with Jack in the Box, and with PepsiCo. In 2001, Lewis was elected a member of the board of directors of Halliburton Co.
MAM
Sameer Nair steps down as CEO of Applause Entertainment
Veteran media executive exits after a decade at the Aditya Birla Group-backed studio.
MUMBAI: After a decade of calling the shots, Sameer Nair is taking a bow from Applause Entertainment. The veteran industry leader and CEO of the prominent content studio is stepping down from his role, according to sources familiar with the development. This marks a significant leadership transition at one of India’s key players in the television and digital content space.
Applause Entertainment, part of the Aditya Birla Group, has built a strong reputation under Nair’s leadership for its high-quality adaptations of international formats and a slate of original series across OTT platforms. Nair, who joined the company a decade ago, was instrumental in shaping its growth and positioning it as a notable force in India’s evolving streaming landscape.
Prior to Applause, he held senior roles at major media organisations, including Star India, where he played a pivotal part in the launch of the iconic show Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2000. He also worked with Balaji Telefilms and NDTV Imagine.
It remains unclear who will succeed Nair or what his next professional move will be. Queries sent to Nair did not receive a response, and Applause Entertainment declined to comment on the matter.
His exit comes at a time when the Indian content ecosystem is undergoing rapid changes, with streaming platforms recalibrating investments, focusing on profitability, and adjusting content strategies amid shifting viewer preferences and increasing competition.
Industry insiders suggest the transition could signal a strategic reset for Applause as it navigates the next phase of growth.
In the fast-paced world of Indian entertainment, where hits can fade as quickly as they rise, Sameer Nair has enjoyed a remarkably steady and influential run. As he steps off the stage at Applause, the spotlight now turns to what comes next for both the executive and the studio he helped build.
