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Saleha Williams takes over as IABM CEO
MUMBAI: The international trade association for broadcast and media (IABM) today announced the appointment of Saleha Williams as CEO. Williams took up the role with effect from 2 December 2024. She succeeds Jerry Gepner who was CEO from October 2023 to May 2024. He had replaced Peter White who occupied the corner office for around 13 years before stepping down in January 2023.
As the CEO of the association, Williams will lead IABM’s mission to advance the interests of the global broadcast and media technology industry. She will work closely with its board and team to develop and implement strategies to drive innovation, foster collaboration, and promote the industry’s growth.
Williams brings a wealth of global experience and a proven track record in the media technology industry. Over her 30 plus year career, she has spearheaded profitable growth and elevated market positioning for entities, including BBC, Google, WPP, Cognizant, Cisco, Siemens, BT, UK Gov, the Olympics, and media and entertainment clients from Hollywood, Indian cinema and everywhere in between.
As a passionate technology ESG advocate, she also serves as a non-executive director at WCMC – the United Nations Environmental Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC).
A multi-award-winning tech thought leader, speaker, and DEIB evangelist (Financial Times Top 100 Tech Leaders, London 2012 Olympics Inspire a Generation, Insead Tech Inspirational Female, NAB Show, IBC Show, Mobile World Congress, Royal Television Society, Broadcast Asia and more), Saleha is deeply committed to driving strategies that foster an inclusive culture of innovation across the global media and entertainment industry. She believes in creating environments where teams and talent can flourish, clients and partners can succeed, and where media and technology stories have the power to positively impact people and the planet.
IABM chair Josh Arensberg said: “Saleha brings a deep history of leadership in the media industry and understands the potential of our industry to deliver groundbreaking products and services. She is the right mix of thought leader, entrepreneur, and relationship builder to help bring the entire industry together. The board of IABM is eager to work closely with her to build our future vision together. We could not be more excited to welcome her onboard.”
Said Williams: “IABM has a long history of supporting the global broadcast and media technology industry, and I am excited to work with the board and the team to build on this legacy. Our industry is at a pivotal moment, and I am committed to working with our members to shape the future of media technology and drive innovation across our entire ecosystem.”
“Saleha will bring a completely fresh approach to IABM, and I am very much looking forward to working with her as we strive to make it even better at delivering on its primary purpose – helping all our members to do better business,” said IABM chief finance & operations officer Lucinda Meek.
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With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
