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Banijay Germany and Sascha Rinne Management form joint venture
MUMBAI: Banijay Germany is strengthening its group of independent entertainment companies by taking a majority stake in SR Management GmbH. Founder Sascha Rinne remains on board as managing director and co-shareholder.
The SR Management GmbH has an impressive portfolio of talent from the world of entertainment. Presenters, entertainment/comedy, sports and lifestyle are among the core areas of the agency. In addition to talent management, the company has been increasingly focusing on the production of its own content for the past two years. Since 2018, its own content team, led by Tobias Holtkamp, has been designing exclusive formats and series for various brands, media providers and online platforms. Under the label “Podcastbande”, SR Management produces The Pochers Here for Audio Now. For the Cologne Sharks, the multi-part ice hockey documentary Unter Haien was created, which is now in its second season.
This new venture supports Banijay Germany’s ethos of partnering with like-minded, independent and entrepreneurially-managed companies. It will combine the relevant producers and media companies, which Sascha Rinne and his team work with, with the range of TV formats, development, digital marketing and live expertise that Banijay Germany has available across its entities.
Banijay Germany CEO Marcus Wolter said, “Sascha has been synonymous with the sustainable, strategic development of artists’ careers for many years. He has built up a powerful, well-connected and positioned talent agency. I am very pleased that he has now decided to partner with Banijay.”
GF SR Management Sascha Rinne said, “The entertainment industry has changed a lot in recent years and we have set ourselves the goal of innovating our agency with it. We see the partnership with Banijay not only as a step, but as a leap into the future. We will now offer our partners and customers an even stronger network – at all levels. Personally, I am very happy to have found the ideal partnership with a big player like Banijay, which on the one hand, significantly strengthens us and on the other, allows us to continue to operate independently.”
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
