MAM
Zabeen signs off from TV9 after shaping the network’s public voice
Communications leader exits after three years spanning MD office strategy and media outreach.
MUMBAI: After more than three years of shaping the message behind the microphone, Sana Zabeen has moved on from TV9 Network, closing a chapter that saw her play a central role in the broadcaster’s communications and media strategy.
Zabeen most recently served as lead of PR and communication and media relations, a role she took on in April 2024. From the managing director’s office, she steered brand communication, managed media engagement and sharpened institutional messaging at a time when news networks have been under constant public and industry scrutiny.
Before that, she worked in communication and outreach within the MD’s office between January 2023 and April 2024, contributing to strategic positioning and stakeholder communication as the network expanded its footprint and narrative.
Her exit marks the end of a stint that built on a diverse media and marketing career. Prior to joining TV9, Zabeen was head of content and marketing at Nikology, where she led brand-led content strategies, media positioning and revenue-focused communication initiatives.
She has also held leadership roles at Bada Business Pvt. Ltd. as senior project manager, and spent over five years at Times Network, working in branded content and collaborating closely with marquee advertisers on integrated media solutions.
Earlier in her career, Zabeen was associate producer at CNBC TV18, where she produced large-format branded properties and business features. She began her journalism journey as a correspondent covering enterprise technology with Web18 and Mobile18, laying a reporting foundation that later informed her strategic communications work.
As Zabeen turns the page, her trajectory reflects a professional who has moved fluidly between newsroom, branded content and boardroom communication, a mix that has become increasingly valuable in today’s media ecosystem.
MAM
Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia deepens philanthropic push in India ahead of retirement
Entrepreneur backs gurdwara project and education for slum children as he expands charitable footprint in the country
LONDON: Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia is ramping up his philanthropic footprint in India. On a recent visit to the country, the UK-based entrepreneur stepped up support for religious and educational causes, signalling a deeper long-term commitment as he prepares to spend more time in India ahead of retirement.
Ahluwalia reaffirmed support for key social initiatives, including a donation to Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara Kalgidhar Sahib in Gurugram and continued backing for a school in Faridabad for which he had earlier purchased the land.
The donation will fund the construction of the gurdwara, expected to be completed by mid-2028. Run largely by volunteers, the site will serve as a community hub and continue the Sikh tradition of langar — a community kitchen that provides free meals to all, regardless of faith.
Parallelly, the Faridabad school continues to deliver free, multi-year education to children living in extreme poverty in surrounding slums. The institution is part of the 12 educational facilities run by the Jagriti Sewa Trust, where Ahluwalia serves as chairman. The trust provides underprivileged students with free education as well as skill-development opportunities.
The latest support adds to Ahluwalia’s long record of charitable giving in India. In recent years, it included a £100,000 donation to the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation’s Justice for Every Child campaign, which provides legal and psychological support to vulnerable children and their families.
Through the Ahluwalia Foundation, the businessman regularly backs charities and non-profits in both India and the United Kingdom. The foundation focuses on projects linked to education, migration and the rights of children and women.
Ahluwalia’s philanthropic drive is rooted in personal history. Having fled to the UK as a refugee at the age of 13, he has long supported migrant-focused organisations, including the London-based Migration Museum, while also funding educational initiatives in India such as free schooling programmes in Hyderabad.
Now, as he gradually shifts more of his time to India, Ahluwalia’s charitable ambitions are expanding. Future plans include launching a classic car rally across the country to raise funds for causes he supports.
“Education and faith are very close to my heart,” Ahluwalia said. “For so many Indians, whether they live in India or abroad, a gurdwara or any place of worship is more than somewhere to practise faith. They are places of community and identity.”
Reflecting on the Faridabad visit, Ahluwalia added: “It was very special seeing the work of the Jagriti Sewa Trust firsthand. Knowing that disadvantaged children are receiving a free education — and that I had a small part to play in that — is deeply meaningful. Social status and economic background should not determine a person’s chances of success.”
