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Banijay retains Marie Schweitzer as chief strategy officer
MUMBAI: Banijay has announced that Marie Schweitzer will continue to remain as chief strategy officer. Schweitzer has been with the production house since its inception in 2008, and played a fundamental role in the merger with Endemol Shine group.
In the newly scaled-up group, she will continue to report to CEO Marco Bassetti and oversee strategy, research and communications. In addition, she will also be responsible for Banijay’s overarching strategy and identify strategic expansion opportunities.
Appointed to her current role in September 2016, Schweitzer joined the group during its launch as co-head of market research. Since then, she has held a number of positions across the business. Taking on strategy and business development more recently, she has been working with the executive team on M&A and growth opportunities, while leading the departmental heads within her wider remit.
Prior to Banijay, Schweitzer was head of market research at Endemol France following several years in production.
Banijay CEO Marco Bassetti said, “Marie has been with us since the start and is very much a key figure in the growth trajectory of the business. Aiding most recently on the complex acquisition and integration of Endemol, she has been at the forefront of our strategy and development, consistently balancing content expertise with entrepreneurial spirit. A valuable member of our exec team, she will now continue to work with us to effectively evolve and strengthen our global footprint for the future.”
Marie Schweitzer said, “I have spent the past 12 years at the heart of a company that has gone from one territory to 22 and a few employees to thousands worldwide. It’s a proud moment to see the hard work paying off as we morph into the biggest unscripted player on the planet and with a host of super-brands to now call our own, a fantastic raft of talent and an unrivalled pipeline of premium IP, the opportunities are endless.”
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.
