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Shemaroo appoints Hiren Gada as CEO in leadership rejig
MUMBAI: Gearing itself for the next phase of growth, Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd (Shemaroo) has restructured its top leadership making several timely appointments.
According to a release on the BSE website, the entertainment and content company has elevated Hiren Gada as the chief executive officer (CEO) in addition to his existing role as chief financial officer (CFO).
Having spent time with various divisions within the company and leading the organisation to scale up and get listed, Gada will now take on the leadership role in addition to his original role as the CFO. In his new role as CEO and CFO, Gada will lead the company through its next phase of growth.
Shemaroo has also promoted Kranti Gada to the role of chief operating officer (COO) of the company. Kranti Gada was involved in setting up the company’s mobile business and played a key role in the company’s early adoption of digital platforms. More recently she incubated the company’s expansion into the DTH segment. In her new role, Kranti will head the revenue function of the company to drive growth.
Hiren Gada, who joined Shemaroo 15 years ago, has played a significant role in the transformation of the company from a family-run business to a professionally driven organisation in terms of systems, processes and best industry practices.
Kranti Gada joined the family business at Shemaroo in 2006 after a successful stint in marketing at Pepsi Co. She helped set up Shemaroo’s mobile business and established the company as a leading mobile VAS player in the country.
With a clear focus on strengthening the organisation for the next phase of development, Jai Maroo, director of the company, will now move from his current role of guiding the expansion of the digital media business to focus on organisational transformation and excellence.
Raman Maroo and Atul Maru remain managing director and joint managing director of the company, respectively. The new leadership structure is effective immediately.
Commenting on the restructuring, Shemaroo managing director Raman Maroo said, “Our endeavour has always been to build a future-ready organisation with distinct professional capabilities while retaining its entrepreneurial culture. We have done that with an emphasis on developing internal talent and marrying that by bringing in great talent from industry peers. We want to create a structure that will power us as we enter our next growth phase.”
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.
