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Star India’s Gayatri Yadav steps down as president & head – consumer strategy and innovation
MUMBAI: Gayatri Yadav, one of Star India’s most important executives, has decided to move on. Indiantelevision.com, through multiple sources, has learnt that September will be Gayatri’s last month with the organisation post which she is likely to pursue her entrepreneurial venture.
“Yes. This is to confirm Gayatri, who has had a long and fruitful association with Star India, is moving on. We wish her all the best in her new venture,” a Disney spokesperson told Indiantelevision.com
As president and head consumer strategy and innovation, Gayatri’s mandate was to drive future growth on the back of brand and marketing strategy and big data and analytics.
Having joined the Star network in 2011 as marketing head, Gayatri has been the force behind some of Star’s most crucial and memorable campaigns and shows like the launch of Satyamev Jayate, the refresh and expansion of Star Sports, marketing launch of its streaming service Hotstar and crafting the Nayi Soch brand plan on Star Plus.
More recently, under her leadership, Star India was first off the blocks among all major broadcasters to unleash a nation-wide marketing blitzkrieg to announce new channel pricing and packs under TRAI’s new tariff regime.
Gayatri has over 20 years of experience in marketing across consumer products and media. She started her career at Procter and Gamble in brand management working across categories and brands and later joined General Mills where as chief marketing officer she was responsible for launching Pillsbury and mounting a strong and distinguished portfolio of brands creating various categories in the then budding packaged foods market.
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.
