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ESPN STAR Sports promotes Adam Zecha to senior V-P of affiliate sales
SINGAPORE: ESPN STAR Sports (ESS) has announced the promotion of Adam Zecha from vice president to senior V-P, affiliate sales.
Zecha was part of the launch team of the ESS joint venture almost seven years ago. He joined the company in 1996 as director of affiliate sales overseeing the company’s relationships with cable and satellite systems, hotel distribution and syndication sales in 16 markets, primarily countries in South East Asia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Papua New Guinea.
In 1999, Zecha was promoted to V-P of affiliate sales with the added responsibility of overseeing distribution for Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.
In his role as head of affiliate sales, Zecha has played a role in the consistent growth of ESPN and STAR Sports’ cable and DTH distribution across the region.
Since 1999, ESPN’s distribution has increased from 46 million to 128 million in January 2003 while STAR Sports’ household numbers have grown from 46 million in 1999 to 57 million in January 2003, a company release says.
Zecha was with ESPN Asia before the joint venture and prior to that he was with Dow Jones Television Group based in Hong Kong where he assisted in the launch of Asia Business News. He also spent eight years in the advertising and PR industries in Los Angeles, USA and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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.
