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Viacom names Alex Berkett as SVP, corporate development
MUMBAI: Viacom Inc has appointed Alex Berkett to the position of senior vice president, corporate development.
In this role, Berkett will lead the company’s global corporate development and mergers and acquisitions functions. Based in New York, he will report directly to Viacom CFO Wade Davis.
Berkett will identify and develop growth opportunities for Viacom and its brands, including partnerships, acquisitions, investments and joint ventures. He will also work closely with senior executives across the company to advise on and lead deal negotiations.
Berkett joins Viacom from Townsquare Media, a publicly-held diversified local media company he co-founded in 2010. At Townsquare, he served as executive vice president, responsible for corporate development, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, investor relations and a variety of other senior functions.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Alex to Viacom, where he will oversee our efforts to forge new partnerships, explore opportunities in innovative new businesses and help advance the company’s strategic goals. Viacom is committed to continued investment in key areas of growth, and Alex’s deep knowledge of media, strong transactional track record and entrepreneurial background make him the right choice to expand our capabilities in new and exciting ways. Alex is a proven leader and has the skills and experience to hit the ground running,” said Davis.
Prior to his work at Townsquare, Berkett worked in J.P. Morgan’s Technology, Media & Telecom Investment Banking Group, which he joined following the firm’s acquisition of Bear, Stearns & Co. Berkett spent eleven years in the investment banking division of Bear Stearns, rising to managing director, where he focused on merger and acquisition advisory for media and entertainment companies.
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.
