News Headline
Gustavo Cisneros named Mipcom 2005 Personality of the year
MUMBAI: Cisneros Group of Companies chairman and CEO Gustavo Cisneros has been named as the Mipcom 2005 Personality of the Year by Reed Midem.
Cisneros will receive the award during a gala dinner for industry executives on 19 October at the 21st edition of Mipcom (17 – 21 October, Palais des Festivals, Cannes).
“We are delighted to honor the man who has built the Cisneros Group of Companies into the media giant it is today, not only in Latin America but also in the US and Europe. For over 30 years, Gustavo Cisneros has been at the forefront of Latin America’s economic progress and social development. His efforts and the outstanding success of the Cisneros Group, which he oversees, have helped to increase Latin America’s profile on the global stage, cultivate new industries, and increase access to information,” says Reed Midem CEO Paul Zilk.
Cisneros said, “I am thrilled to be honored by Mipcom. It is especially gratifying to be recognised for contributions to international television. Crossing borders – not only between nations, but also between cultures and media – is a key element of both my business and philanthropic activities. Moreover I am honored to be in the company of others who have received the Personality of the Year Award, all of whom have made groundbreaking contributions to our field. Of course, credit for the accomplishments that have led to this award is not mine alone. My talented colleagues – all hardworking, intelligent professionals – and, above all else, my wife, Patty, are essential ingredients of my business and philanthropic successes.”
The Cisneros Group of Companies is one of the largest privately held media, entertainment, technology, telecommunications, and consumer-products organisations in the world. Today, the Cisneros Group of Companies owns or holds interests in 75 companies with operations in more than 80 countries. With annual revenues exceeding $3.5 billion, the Group’s business sectors range from broadcast television networks, pay television and interactive services, telecommunications and to beverage businesses and supermarket chains. Through its diverse industries, the Cisneros Group of Companies delivers leading brands and high quality services to 550 million Spanish and Portuguese-speaking consumers in the Americas and Europe.
The Group’s holdings include interests in Venevision (the leading broadcast television channel in Venezuela), Venevision International (a Spanish-language entertainment company specializing in TV programming), Univision Communications, Inc. (the leading provider of Spanish-language content to the US Hispanic audience), Movida Communications (the mobile virtual operator for the US Hispanic market), Claxson Interactive Group Inc. (an integrated Ibero-American media and entertainment company), and DirecTV Latin America.
In addition to his responsibilities related to the Cisneros Group, Cisneros is a charter member of the United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force. As an ambassador for the media world and the entertainment and communications industries, he regularly participates in a wide range of events and speaks at universities and other venues. These have included the World Economic Forum, World Management Council, Columbia University, and Rockefeller University, among others.
The Mipcom Personality of the Year Award was created in 1989 to pay tribute to exceptional careers in and contributions to the international television industry. Previous recipients of the Award include Canal+ founder André Rousselet, CNN founder Ted Turner, Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone, MTV Networks chairman and CEO Tom Freston, News Corporation president and COO and The Fox Group chairman and CEO Peter Chernin, and RTL group CEO Gerhard Zeiler.
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.
