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Former SBS chief Harry E Sloan named MGM CEO
MUMBAI: Harry E. Sloan, who has built three successful publicly traded media companies over the past 20 years, has taken over as the chairman and CEO of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. (MGM).
The companies Sloan has invested in and headed include SBS Broadcasting, Lions Gate Entertainment, and New World Entertainment. Most recently, he was executive chairman of SBS Broadcasting, a leading European media company, which he founded in 1990. The sale of SBS for about $2.6 billion was completed this month.
“Harry has a superb track record in developing both content and distribution businesses and in exploiting growth opportunities in emerging technologies,” said Jonathan M Nelson, who is the current chairman of MGM and chief executive officer of Providence Equity Partners, MGM’s largest shareholder.
“He has a thorough understanding of MGM’s business and opportunities, and we believe he is the right leader to help us build on the Company’s strong foundation. Now that he has successfully completed his work at SBS, we look forward to working with him on a full-time basis as our partner in growing the business and creating value for our investors.”
An official release has quoted Sloan as saying, “I plan to pursue MGM’s many compelling growth opportunities in the domestic and international markets. The proliferation of digital channels and other new content delivery options is dramatically increasing the demand for the quality content MGM can provide. I look forward to working with my MGM partners and the talented MGM employees to make the company a strong player in the creative community and to grow the business significantly in the years ahead.”
Sloan, a member of the MGM Board of Directors, will also invest in MGM and become part of the ownership group, which includes four private equity firms and two media companies. Ownership is currently as follows: Providence Equity Partners (29 per cent), Texas Pacific Group (21 per cent), Sony (20 per cent), Comcast (20 per cent), DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (7 per cent), and Quadrangle Group (3 per cent).
This year, MGM has co-financed and co-produced six movies with its strategic partner Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), including The Amityville Horror, Into the Blue and Capote. In 2006, the studio plans to produce and co-finance several movies with SPE, including new titles from the Pink Panther, Rocky and James Bond franchises. Among these, Pink Panther will be released on 10 February 2006.
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.
