News Headline
Disney board battles allegations on CEO selection process
MUMBAI:The independent members of The Walt Disney Co. board on 12 May issued a strong rebuke to two former members who have challenged the process used to select Robert Iger as the company’s new chief executive.
The 10 non-management members of the 12-member board call the charges “baseless and inaccurate”.
The statement came one day after the company reported a 30 percent rise in earnings for the second quarter according to agency reports.
Earlier in the week, ex-board members Roy E. Disney and Stanley Gold filed a lawsuit against a few sitting board members, alleging that the process used to name a successor to longtime CEO Michael Eisner was biased in favor of Iger and did not adequately consider outside candidates.
The lawsuit has seeked to have the election nullified and in turn ask a Delaware court to prevent the company from modifying Iger’s or Eisner’s contracts.
The lawsuit interestingly did not name four board members as defendants. The implication if interpreted was that there was a dissension on the board and that the selection of Iger, though ultimately unanimous, was not initially supported by the full board.
The board statement defended the selection process as “thorough, careful and reasoned.”
“At the end of the process, we unanimously concluded that Bob Iger was the best choice to lead the company forward as CEO,” the company statement says. “The performance of the company in the period leading up to the selection and since that time only underscores our confidence in the selection we made.”
Iger has called the lawsuit “completely without any basis.” He also said Disney employees were “just plain fed up with all this.”
Disney shares rose 8 cents to close at $25.75 on the New York Stock Exchange.
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.
