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Sony Pictures locks in media veteran for five-year run
MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India has secured Gaurav Banerjee as managing director and chief executive officer until August 2029, cementing a five-year tenure that shareholders rubber-stamped at the company’s annual general meeting on 25 August.
The appointment, effective since August 2024, regularises Banerjee’s position after he joined as an additional director the same month. He stepped into the hot seat last year, replacing NP Singh in a changing of the guard at India’s entertainment behemoth.
Shareholders also waved through the elevation of general counsel Ritesh Khosla and chief financial officer Sibaji Biswas to whole-time director roles, with five-year terms kicking in from December 2024 and February 2025 respectively. The trio’s appointments follow the Companies Act’s stringent governance requirements, with statutory filings confirming none hold shares in the company or maintain family ties with existing board members.
The moves come as Sony Pictures Networks India, which trades under the Culver Max Entertainment banner, seeks to fortify its leadership team amid intensifying competition in India’s Rs 1.8 trillion media and entertainment sector. The company operates a stable of 28 television channels spanning genres from news to entertainment, alongside its streaming platform SonyLiv.
Financial results for FY24 underscore the scale of Banerjee’s mandate: the company clocked revenues of Rs 6,511 crore with net profit hitting Rs 840 crore. Subscription income of Rs 3,206 crore marginally outpaced advertising revenues of Rs 2,825 crore, reflecting the industry’s ongoing pivot towards direct-pay models as traditional advertising faces headwinds. For Banerjee, the extended tenure offers breathing room to execute long-term strategy in a market where rivals are splashing billions on content and technology.
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.
