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Marketing wizkid Karan Bajaj to head Discovery India
MUMBAI: The hunt to find a replacement for Discovery India head Rahul Johri has come to a conclusion. And the professional who is going to step into Johri’s shoes is Karan Bajaj, a wunderkinder marketer from the US.
Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific has appointed Bajaj as senior vice president and general manager of South Asia with effect from 17 October 2016. He will be based in Mumbai and will report to Discovery APAC president and managing director Arthur Bastings.
Bajaj will focus on re-formulating Discovery’s product suite in line with accelerating demand for regional and digital offerings. He will also be responsible for executing the company’s stated ambition to step outside of its current category leadership to build broader flagship brands and actively seek out inorganic growth opportunities.
Commenting on the appointment, Bastings said, “India has quickly become one of Discovery’s top-priority global markets. These are exciting times as we strategically step up our investments to take advantage of very dynamic growth in both TV and digital. Karan brings that rare combination of creative flair, a strong instinct for the Indian millennial zeitgeist and a cutting-edge leadership style. His proven track record of scaling businesses and brands speaks for itself.”
A BE topper from the Birla Institute of Technology and an IIM Bangalore marketing MBA, he has reportedly been selected after a global head hunt.
Long standing country head Rahul Johri departed earlier this year to take on a position with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as its CEO. Discovery India’s earlier heads include respected executives Deepak Shourie and Kiran Karnik.
Since Johri’s departure, Bastings has been selectively seeking out candidates who will help him fulfill his ambitions to make the network stronger digitally across Asia. The company announced the appointment of Jay Trinidad as the head for its north east Asian business earlier this week. Trinidad has been mandated to grow Discovery’s digital business.
Now with the hire of Bajaj as Discovery India country head, Bastings will have plugged another management gap. The former has worked with companies such as Procter & Gamble in the US, The Boston Consulting Group, Kraft Foods, Mondelez International and finally at Aden & Anais Inc.
A best-selling novelist and striving yogi, Bajaj balances his professional career with personal creativity and spirituality. His novels Keep off the Grass and Johnny Gone Down launched his literary career. In June this year, he had his first international novel release – The Yoga of Max’s Discontent.
(Updated at 19:30 hours following the issuance of the the press release by Discovery Communications)
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.
