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Viacom names Amit Arora as VP – strategy & biz development for Asia
MUMBAI: Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) has appointed Amit Arora as vice president – strategy and business development, Asia, with immediate effect.
Arora will be based in Singapore and serve on the Asia leadership team, reporting to VIMN executive vice president and managing director for Asia Mark Whitehead. He will also be working closely with the global strategy team in New York. In this newly created role, Arora will drive the cross-business growth strategy and business development opportunities in Asia to help shape the organisation’s decision-making.
“We are thrilled to have Amit join the VIMN family. Amit has a strong track record in driving business growth and executing new channel and digital expansion. His outstanding analytical and strategic abilities coupled with extensive knowledge in the media and telecom sectors enable him to develop effective growth strategies. He will be a terrific addition to the team as we position the organisation for future growth and strengthen our competitive leverage in the region,” said Whitehead.
Most recently, Arora was with BBC Worldwide in Singapore as head of business development and strategy, Asia. He joins VIMN Asia with 15 years of experience in the media, telecom, cable and technology industries including business development, analytics and strategic advisory roles in well-known media businesses such as ABC Television/The Walt Disney Company, Turner Broadcasting, and Time Warner Cable in the U.S.
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.
