News Headline
Former Apple COO Jeff Williams nominated to Disney board
CALIFORNIA: Disney is bringing Silicon Valley muscle into its boardroom. The Walt Disney Company has nominated former Apple chief operating officer Jeff Williams as an independent director, expanding its board to 11 members, subject to shareholder approval at the 2026 annual meeting.
Williams retired from Apple earlier this year after nearly three decades at the company, where he rose to become one of Tim Cook’s most trusted lieutenants. As COO from 2015, he oversaw Apple’s global supply chain, services and support operations, led its design organisation and played a central role in launching the Apple Watch, while shaping the company’s push into health and fitness.
Disney’s chairman James Gorman described Williams as a proven leader with rare experience at the intersection of technology, operations and product design, as the company sharpens its focus on storytelling powered by innovation.
Williams said Disney’s ability to pair imagination with cutting-edge technology has long set it apart, adding that he looks forward to contributing to the company’s next phase of creative and technological ambition.
Before becoming Apple’s COO, Williams held senior operations roles and was instrumental in the 2007 launch of the iPhone. He joined Apple in 1998 after stints in engineering and operations at IBM, and holds degrees from North Carolina State University and Duke University.
Shareholders will vote on Williams’s election alongside the reappointment of Disney’s 10 existing directors. As Hollywood leans harder on technology, Disney’s latest board pick signals where it believes its next competitive edge will come from.
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.
