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Picardo appointed Reality TV mkting manager, Asia Pacific & India
MUMBAI: UK based International Thematic Channel creators, Zone Vision, has appointed Flecka Picardo as the marketing manager, Asia Pacific and India. Picardo will be spearheading all marketing and promotional activities for Reality TV in India.
Flecka Picardo
Launched early last year, Reality TV, a 24-hour channel delivers non-stop insight into people’s lives without actors, special effects or rehearsed material. The channel has attained an impressive reach and has crossed a viewership of 15 million households across the country. Reality TV is distributed in India by Zee Turner.
Prior to joining Zone Vision Picardo was the sales and marketing manager, Asia Pacific at Asia Television Network, London. Her previous assignments include experiences with Sony Entertainment Television India and CNBC India.
Talking about her latest assignment Picardo said, “Working with Reality TV will be an experience unlike that of other television channels. This appointment offers a challenge of introducing and sustaining a new concept of programming with respect to Indian audiences. I believe that with a proper blend of marketing strategy and experienced insight into the psyche and preferences of the Asian consumers, we can go a long way in expanding the reach of Reality TV.”
Zone Vision president Agnieszka Somerville said, “We are pleased to have Ms Picardo on board. She brings with her, an experience with Indian and International channels which will help us improve our marketing and promotional strategies for our Asian viewers.”
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.
