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IBF appointes Star & Disney India’s K. Madhavan as president
Mumbai: At the twenty-first annual general meeting (AGM) of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), held on 25 September 2020, the Board has elected Star & Disney India’s MD K. Madhavan as the foundation’s new president.
Madhavan will succeed NP Singh, India MD & CEO, Sony Pictures Networks, who held the position for two years.
The IBF Board has also elected the following office bearers of IBF:-
Vice President-IBF
· India TV chairman Rajat Sharma
· Turner International MD (south Asia) Siddharth Jain
· Viacom18 MD Rahul Joshi
Treasurer-IBF
· Prasar Bharti CEO Shashi S Vempati
K. Madhavan said, “It is my honor to lead IBF at a time when the Indian broadcasting sector is going through a tumultuous time, battling the pandemic and instability in the regulatory space. IBF has played an instrumental role in advocating the interests of the sector, and my predecessors have contributed immensely in evolving the foundation’s stature and purpose. I take on this role with a great sense of responsibility and commitment to champion the cause of the broadcasting sector.”
N.P Singh said, “I am pleased that someone of the caliber of K. Madhavan is taking over the reins and will lead the foundation. I welcome his selection wholeheartedly. His in-depth knowledge and insights into the sector will help guide the foundation members through these challenging times. I wish him the best in this new endeavor.”
K. Madhavan has been an active member of IBF since 2012 and is also the chair of CII’s national committee on media and entertainment for the ongoing year. He started his journey with Star in 2009 and took over as the managing director of the network in January 2020.
The other Directors on the IBF Board are as under:
· TV Today chairman Aroon Purie
· Sony Pictures Networks MD & CEO & director Bangla EnEntertainment N P Singh
· Eenadu TV director I Venkat
· Zee Media Corp MD & CEO Punit Goenka
· Zee Entertainment CEO-domestic broadcast business – Punit Misra
· Sony Pictures Networks president (network sales & international business) Rohit Gupta
· The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific president & chairman, Star and Disney India Uday Shankar
· Discovery Communications India managing director (south Asia) Megha Tata (co-opted director)
· Malayalam Communications Ltd managing director & chief editor John Brittas (co-opted director)
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.
