e-commerce
RBNL’s chief financial officer Asheesh Chatterjee takes on the additional role of the company’s chief business officer
MUMBAI: Reliance Broadcast Network Limited (RBNL) announces the appointment of Asheesh Chatterjee in the role of ‘Chief Business Officer,’ in addition to his current responsibility of serving as ‘Chief Financial Officer’ of the company. During the last year, Asheesh has been instrumental in bringing together his rich experience and understanding of the media industry to guide the Revenue and Business support teams across the company apart from his usual role of managing Finance, Legal, IT & Digital Transformation. With his deep knowledge of the business since the past 8 years, Asheesh has been contributing in developing practices to help both the radio network’s external as well as internal stakeholders to increase business efficiency, manage costs effectively and deliver great services to clients.
Commenting on taking on an additional role, Asheesh Chatterjee said, “It’s a pleasure to be taking on the additional position of Chief Business Officer at the company with which I have been associated for 8 years. In keeping with BIG FM’s core ethos, I intend to give it my best in taking the company into its next phase of development.”
Speaking about Asheesh’s appointment in his new role, Abraham Thomas – RBNL CEO said, “Since his appointment in 2011, Asheesh has been an asset to the company, significantly contributing towards developing practices that enhances business efficiency, manage costs effectively and deliver great value to clients. Over the last year, he has driven the Revenue, Finance and Business support teams to meet the company’s objectives.”
e-commerce
American Express to acquire AI startup Hyper to boost automation
Deal targets expense management as AI reshapes corporate spending tools.
MUMBAI: From receipts to robots, the expense sheet is getting a brain upgrade as American Express moves to bring artificial intelligence into the heart of corporate spending. The company has announced plans to acquire Hyper, a relatively young but fast-rising startup founded in 2022 that builds AI-powered agents capable of organising expenses, generating reports, verifying compliance with budgets and policies, and nudging users with timely reminders. The deal, expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, underscores a growing shift among financial institutions to automate traditionally manual, time-heavy workflows.
Hyper counts Sam Altman among its backers, adding a layer of Silicon Valley credibility to the acquisition. While financial details remain undisclosed, the strategic intent is clear: deepen automation capabilities and sharpen American Express’s position in the competitive corporate spending ecosystem.
The two companies are not strangers. They previously collaborated in 2024 on a co-branded credit card product, suggesting that the acquisition is less a cold buy and more an extension of an existing relationship. With this move, American Express is effectively bringing that capability in-house, aiming to embed AI directly into its commercial services stack.
Chief executive Stephen Squeri had already signalled the direction of travel in a recent shareholder letter, describing AI as a “structural shift” in how businesses operate. The Hyper acquisition appears to be a direct response to that shift, particularly in expense management, where processes such as approvals, compliance checks and reporting remain ripe for automation.
Alongside the acquisition, the company is also expanding its product suite. A recently launched business credit card offers cashback and benefits at an annual fee of $295, with another card expected later this year moves that complement its broader push into commercial services.
Taken together, the strategy points to a future where managing expenses may require fewer spreadsheets and more algorithms. For American Express, the bet is simple, if businesses are rethinking how work gets done, the tools that power that work need to evolve just as quickly.
