News Headline
CASBAA CEO Christopher Slaughter steps down
MUMBAI: CASBAA has announced that following five years’ service as the Association’s chief executive officer Christopher Slaughter is to step down, effective 31 December. Slaughter will continue as CEO through the remainder of the year while a search is carried out for his successor.
“The Board deeply appreciates Chris’s stewardship of the Association over the past five years. He has spearheaded structural reform of the organisation, created new events, and delivered on CASBAA’s aim to represent, inform, and connect its membership. We are grateful for his service to the membership and the industry,” said CASBAA board chairman Joe Welch.
“It has been a tremendous privilege to work so closely with some of the most inspiring leaders of Asia’s multi-channel TV industry, both on the Board and among CASBAA’s members. In addition, it has been an honour to serve alongside the passionate and dedicated staff in the Executive Office. My time at CASBAA has given me a unique perspective on what has been a transformational period in the industry,” said Slaughter. “I want to express my deep appreciation to the Board for this fantastic opportunity over the past five years.”
Slaughter was appointed as the CEO of CASBAA in October 2012, and had previously served as Convention Director in 2004. Before joining CASBAA, Slaughter held leadership roles in global and regional production, research, and news organisations: APV, The Yankee Group, CNBC, & Asia Business News.
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.
