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MGM names former DreamWorks and Miramax Films Rick Sand as COO
MUMBAI: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has roped in former DreamWorks and Miramax Films Rick Sands as its chief operating officer.
The announcement was made by MGM chairman and chief executive officer Harry E. Sloan.
Rick Sands, till most recently was the president and chief operating officer of DreamWorks SKG and the former chief operating officer of Miramax Films.
As the new COO at MGM, Sands will also supervise the company’s finance, operations and business affairs. Sands’ appointment is effective immediately and he will be based at the company’s corporate headquarters in Century City, Calif.
In this newly created position at MGM, Sands takes on the initial responsibilities of leveraging and managing the world’s largest modern film and television library across all platforms including the new media landscape of internet and mobile as well as the traditional channels of distribution — television, video and international.
According to an official release, the MGM library comprises approximately 4,000 titles and over 10,400 episodes of television programming. Its film library has received 208 Academy Awards, one of the largest award winning collections in the world, and includes numerous successful film franchises including James Bond, Pink Panther and Rocky.
Sands will also devise plans to identify new content and channel opportunities for MGM with the company’s strategic equity partners, including Sony Corporation of America and Comcast Corporation.
In making the announcement, Sloan stated: “I am thrilled to have Rick join MGM’s executive leadership team, where we will benefit immensely from his solid experience and great track record in managing and growing entertainment libraries at such leading companies as DreamWorks, Miramax and Hallmark Entertainment. Rick has a long history of working with extensive entertainment assets and this is key to furthering the exploitation of our content.”
Sands added: “To be involved with MGM is a rare opportunity, having the ability to take an existing brand and to build an even stronger content-based leading enterprise. With the sweeping changes in the distribution business, I plan to bring a unique approach to the MGM library and to create new value and content. I also look forward working with Harry Sloan to expand what is at present one of the blue chip content providers in the industry.”
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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.
