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George Pyne is IMG president – sports and entertainment
MUMBAI: Sports, entertainment and media company IMG Worldwide has appointed George Pyne as the president of its sports and entertainment business.
He will also join the company’s board of directors. Pyne has been widely credited with transforming Nascar into a globally recognised brand and one of the most popular sports in America today. He brings vast experience in rights negotiations, licensing, brand expansion, successful development and management of marketing partnerships and sports-related businesses.
IMG chairman and CEO Ted Forstmann says, “We are very pleased to have George join our executive team. He has been at the forefront of building one of the most successful sports franchises of all time and his achievements at and his industry leadership are great attributes which will help us execute upon IMG’s growth strategy .
“Over the past year that Forstmann Little has owned IMG, we have realigned the organisation and cost structure and today, IMG is extremely sound financially. We see tremendous growth potential for this company through expansion of our current businesses, enter into related businesses and potential acquisitions.”
Pyne says, “I am very enthusiastic about the opportunity to join the IMG team. The IMG brand contains a wealth of world-class assets and global capabilities and the company is full of passionate people with a breadth of experience and knowledge that is unmatched anywhere else. Ted’s record of building great companies is unparalleled and I am extremely pleased to become part of his team.”
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.
