People
Indian Businessman Shiv Nadar on ‘Talk Asia’ on CNN
Airtimes: Indian Standard Times
Saturday, December 10 at 9:30am, 20:00hrs, 22:30hrs (replay)
Sunday, December 11 at 06:00am, 17:00hrs and 20:30hrs (replays)
Monday, December 12 at 09:00am (replay)
This week on TALK ASIA, Satinder Bindra sits down with India’s Shiv Nadar, head of the HCL Group of Companies, one of the largest computer hardware and software conglomerates in the country.
Nadar is a self-made billionaire who defines success not just in terms of what is reflected in the bottom line. “The benchmark which I will use is how well is this organization serving its stakeholders, and how strongly is it built to serve its stakeholders. See, stakeholders are basically three, the customers, the employees, the shareholders. We follow a principle of employee first. If we put our employee first, and if they are satisfied and they are happy, and if their aspirations are filled here, then they will do things which will be naturally making our customers extremely happy, which in turn will take care of the shareholder,” the billionaire says.
The secret to success, Nadar says, is staying aware: “… you must, you have to carry that feeling. You know, like they say, in Africa, you know I’ve seen the posters of it it’s very nice, if you’re born a gazelle, you get up in the morning and think that how I run faster than the fastest lion, and if you’re born a lion, how do I run faster than the slowest gazelle. So, whichever way, if you’re born in Africa, you get up and run. So, if you’re going to be an entrepreneur you have to stay permanently paranoid.”
Inspiration, for Nadar, comes from athletes from the sporting world and not from fellow businessmen. “You know, I’m a very avid watcher of many games, and some of the sports people have stayed my very good friends. And I have seen the passion to achieve certain gold, and the goals are always a level of excellence… when they win, they are extremely happy. When they fail, you can see them, in their face, their goal association is 100%,” he said.
People
BBC appoints Matt Brittin as 18th Director-General
Former Google EMEA president to lead broadcaster from May amid global change
LONDON: The BBC has named Matt Brittin as its 18th Director-General, placing a seasoned technology and media leader at the helm of one of the world’s most influential public broadcasters. He will formally assume the role on 18 May.
Brittin steps into the position after a brief “gap year”, as he described it, returning to the spotlight with a job that, in his own words, was “probably not one either you or I were expecting”. The appointment signals a strategic tilt towards digital expertise at a time when traditional broadcasting continues to evolve at pace.
The new Director-General brings more than 18 years of experience from Google, where he held several senior roles, including President for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. During his tenure, he played a central role in expanding the company’s footprint across Europe and shaping its regional strategy.
More recently, Brittin served as Senior Independent Director at The Guardian, adding boardroom insight from one of Britain’s leading news organisations. His career also spans roles at McKinsey, Trinity Mirror and Sainsbury’s, giving him a broad perspective across media, retail and strategy.
The Director-General position carries dual responsibility as chief executive officer and editor-in-chief, overseeing the BBC’s creative, editorial and operational direction both in the UK and globally. It is a role that demands not just leadership, but a steady editorial compass in an increasingly complex media landscape.
“Now, more than ever, we need a thriving BBC that works for everyone in a complex, uncertain and fast changing world,” Brittin said. He added that the broadcaster remains “an extraordinary, uniquely British asset” with a legacy of innovation in storytelling and technology.
His appointment comes at a moment when public service broadcasters are under pressure to balance tradition with transformation, navigating shifting audience habits, digital disruption and funding debates. Brittin’s blend of Silicon Valley scale and British media sensibility may prove timely.
With “big challenges and big opportunities” ahead, Brittin appears ready to get started. The real test begins in May, when he moves from anticipation to action at Broadcasting House.
