News Headline
Cartoon Network’s Nikhil Mirchandani joins NGC as ad sales head
MUMBAI: Yet another shift from Turner. The erstwhile Cartoon Network India executive director strategic marketing Nikhil Mirchandani has joined the NGC team as the Head – ad sales for both National Geographic Channel and The History Channel.
Mirchandani had put in his papers, at Turner, last month.
NGC India has identified ad sales as a key priority area for the year and has hence set up a dedicated ad sales division. Mirchandani’s appointment is said to be an important part of this initiative.
Mirchandani’s key role will be to build, drive and manage the ad sales efforts for The National Geographic Channel and The History Channel.
According to a company release, the setting up of the ad sales division is part of an overall strategy to ensure comprehensive leadership on all aspects in the category.
“National Geographic Channel and The History Channel are extremely successful channels that the Star Network is proud to have in its bouquet and the setting up of a dedicated ad sales team will only further drive this success,” offered Star India CEO Peter Mukerjea, in the release, about the focus on ad sales.
“Star India will continue to build and grow this partnership not only across distribution but also on programming innovation to expand viewership across the Star Bouquet,” he added.
“On speciality channels like NGC and THC it is imperative that the programming, marketing and sales efforts are completely integrated to offer great value to advertisers. The team will be focused and also have the benefit of Star’s expertise in this area to optimise their performance” offered Star India COO Sameer Nair.
“Today our channels are pervasive across the country and it is a natural progression for us now to focus on our ad sales effort. To ensure that we reach the same levels of excellence in ad sales we wanted to bring in the best talent available. I am confident Nikhil will take these channels to even greater heights,” said NGC Network MD Zubin Gandevia.
As for Mirchandani, he comes to NGC Network after about nine years of experience in the broadcasting industry where his focus has been on ad sales and strategic marketing.
During his stint at Turner, he was responsible for the marketing Cartoon Network and POGO. Prior to that, he had held dual positions of director – Turner advertising sales for north and east regions handling CNN, Cartoon Network and HBO, as well as the advertising sales channel manager for Cartoon Network.
Prior to joining Turner, Mirchandani had worked with Sony Entertainment Television India Ltd. (SET) in Mumbai and later in New Delhi for three years, as the zonal advertising sales manager. He has worked expansively on all SET channels, including Sony, Max, AXN and CNBC. During his tenure at SET, Nikhil was responsible for managing key accounts as well as initiating major CPRP (cost per rating point) deals for large advertisers. He was also involved in training and recruiting teams.
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.
