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ICICI CEO K.V. Kamath named CNBC Asia Business Leader
CNBC has been taking an increasing number of off-air initiatives to further strengthen its bonding with its core audience: the business news viewer. Earlier this year (6 July) it organised the Managing India Brainstorm in Mumbai. For the past couple of months it has been plugging its Business Leaders Awards which were organised by CNBC Asia and TNT.
Held for the first time by CNBC Asia and business logistics solutions company TNT and aimed at rewarding excellence in the corporate arena, the awards honour executives and industry leaders for contributions made in their respective spheres.
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According to the channel, more than a thousand nominees were received and the 10 finalists were chosen by a panel headed by economist Lester Thurow. The finalists were chosen based on the roadmap they charted for their respective companies as well as their ability to manage diverse talent in a difficult job market. The theme of the awards, held at Singapore, was ‘Reinventing Corporate Asia’.
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Four Indians figured in the final list: ICICI CEO & managing director K.V. Kamath, Infosys head N R Narayana Murthy, Wipro chief Azim Premji and Satyam Computers’ B Ramalinga Raju.
Today, the business news channel announced the winners. And ICICI CEO & managing director K V Kamath emerged tops and was named as ‘Asian Business Leader of the Year’, beating back a host of other candidates from Asia.
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A jubilant Kamath told CNBC India after bagging the award that “the award was for Team ICICI. ICICI is technology-led but the challenge lies in driving it at a healthy pace. We have modern systems with no legacy. We are not afraid to make changes. We have a healthy growth engine in retail and corporate and retail can only grow in the coming year. We don’t have any problems which have arisen on account of the merger between ICICI and ICICI Bank. ICICI is 45 years old but the average age is 32 years.. we have the best talent base. “
Other winners of the Asian Business Leader Awards included Mazda Motor Corp president Mark Fields who was named Corporate Citizen of the Year. Singapore-based hotel group Raffles International CEO Richard Helfer walked away with The Innovator of the Year Award, while the prestigious CEOs’ Choice Award was bagged by Neptune Orient Lines’ CEO Flemming Jacobs.
The awards show sponsored by Citibank and Avaya on CNBC showed at 7 pm and was repeated at 10 pm.
All Pictures courtesy CNBC Asia
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.
