iWorld
Vodafone Group elevates Sateesh Kamath to deputy cfo
Newbury: Vodafone Group has elevated Sateesh Kamath to deputy chief financial officer, marking a steady but consequential shift at the top of its global finance function. The appointment rewards more than two decades of service across the telecoms giant’s far-flung markets and signals a renewed push towards tighter financial integration.
In his new role, Kamath will help shape Vodafone’s global finance strategy, strengthen coordination between the group and its operating companies, and drive the company’s “One Finance” agenda. Until recently, he served as global finance director, building influence across finance, supply chain and core business operations.
Kamath’s career inside the Vodafone ecosystem has been both broad and deep. He has held senior finance leadership roles including chief financial officer of Vodafone Business, chief financial officer and acting chief executive officer at Safaricom plc, and chief financial officer at Vodacom Tanzania plc. His experience spans Europe, Africa, Australia, India and partner markets, giving him a rare blend of operational and strategic exposure across mature and emerging economies.
He also sits on the board of Vodafone Idea Limited as a non-executive director, adding governance weight to an executive profile shaped by capital discipline, transformation programmes and stakeholder management.
At a time when Vodafone is streamlining operations and sharpening financial controls, the elevation of a battle-tested insider suggests continuity over disruption. In telecoms, where scale is global but margins are tight, steady hands still matter.
Gaming
DPIIT partners with Krafton to boost tech-media startups
New MoU aims to accelerate innovation in gaming, esports and AI-driven entertainment.
MUMBAI: When government meets gaming, sparks are bound to fly and this time, the partnership promises to level up India’s startup scene in more ways than one. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Krafton India Pvt. Ltd. to support early-stage startups working at the intersection of technology and media. The agreement, formalised on Thursday, reflects a growing effort by policymakers to harness private-sector expertise for the country’s booming digital entertainment ecosystem.
Under the partnership, selected startups will gain access to mentorship, industry networks and structured opportunities to engage with established players. The initiative is designed to help young companies move from prototype to market-ready products, test concepts, secure market access and integrate into larger industry ecosystems.
Sanjiv, a joint secretary at DPIIT, described the collaboration as part of a broader strategy to strengthen India’s digital and creative economy. He emphasised that such alliances are essential for helping startups develop globally competitive solutions in emerging sectors such as online gaming, esports, interactive media and artificial intelligence.
The programme will feature innovation challenges under the government’s startup initiatives, along with hackathons, workshops and masterclasses covering game design, animation, immersive technologies and AI applications. Selected startups may also be considered for pilot projects with industry partners based on their performance.
In a sector where ideas move at the speed of a battle royale, this partnership could be the ultimate power-up giving promising startups the mentorship and exposure needed to turn creative sparks into sustainable success stories.
