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Tag: Amitabh Kant

  • ITC’s diversification strategy gains traction as profits climb to record highs

    ITC’s diversification strategy gains traction as profits climb to record highs

    KOLKATA: ITC, India’s Rs 1.25 lakh crore conglomerate, demonstrated the resilience of its multi-business model in the quarter ended 30th September 2025, posting net profit from continuing operations of Rs 5,179.82 crore—up 4.1 per cent—as its diversification investments continue to mature. For the half year, profit surged three per cent to Rs 10,092.18 crore, underscoring the momentum building across its portfolio.

    The numbers reveal a company hitting its stride. Cigarettes, the engine that funds ITC’s expansion ambitions, delivered robust 6.7 per cent revenue growth to Rs 8,722.83 crore, with segment profit reaching Rs 5,240.66 crore. This performance, achieved despite elevated taxation, provides the cash flow for the group’s ambitious forays into branded foods, personal care and digital ventures.

    More importantly, ITC’s strategic investments in FMCG are showing tangible progress. The other FMCG businesses—spanning Aashirvaad staples, Bingo snacks, Sunfeast biscuits and personal care products—grew revenue 6.9 per cent to Rs 5,964.44 crore. Whilst brand-building costs continue to weigh on near-term margins, EBITDA for this segment improved to Rs 594.08 crore. Management’s patient capital approach is paying dividends as these brands gain market share in India’s vast consumption economy.

    The paperboards division, a testament to ITC’s manufacturing prowess, grew revenue 5 per cent to Rs 2,219.92 crore with healthy margins. The agri business, though affected by seasonal commodity price volatility, remains a critical link in ITC’s farm-to-fork value chain.

    On a consolidated basis—reflecting the group’s expanding footprint through subsidiaries including ITC Infotech and new acquisitions like Sresta Natural Bioproducts—the picture brightens further. Revenue stood at Rs 21,255.86 crore whilst profit climbed 4.2 per cent to Rs 5,186.55 crore. For the half year, consolidated profit jumped 4.6 per cent to Rs 10,529.96 crore, with earnings per share at Rs 8.28.

    The company’s balance sheet remains fortress-like, with total assets of Rs 90,802.66 crore and negligible debt. Cash generation remained strong, with operating activities throwing off Rs 5,782.15 crore in the half year, funding both dividends of Rs 9,823.58 crore and continued capital expenditure of Rs 1,006.71 crore.

    The board’s decision to appoint Amitabh Kant, architect of India’s economic reforms as former Niti Aayog chief, as an independent director signals ambitions for the next phase of growth. The reappointment of Hemant Malik as wholetime director ensures continuity in execution.

    ITC’s transformation from a cigarette company into a diversified consumer powerhouse is well underway. With market-leading positions emerging in multiple FMCG categories, a robust pipeline of innovation, and the financial muscle to sustain long-term investments, the company is positioning itself to capture India’s consumption boom. The patience investors have shown may soon be rewarded as scale benefits begin to flow through.

  • RedBeryl shines bright with Iconic Luxury Card win in just two years

    RedBeryl shines bright with Iconic Luxury Card win in just two years

    MUMBAI: Luxury got a glittering upgrade this week as Redberyl Lifestyle Services Ltd. pocketed the iconic luxury lifestyle card honour at the 7th edition of the Iconic Awards by TV9 Network. What makes the win sparkle brighter? The brand achieved the feat in just two years since launch, a meteoric rise in the rarefied world of luxury lifestyle services. The award was handed over by Suman Billa, IAS, additional secretary & director general, ministry of tourism, at a grand ceremony that saluted pioneers reshaping luxury, travel, and allied industries.

    “This accolade, earned in just two years since our inception, is a testament to our team’s dedication to curating extraordinary and exclusive experiences,” said Redberyl founder & CEO Manoj Adlakha adding that the win inspires them to keep pushing the boundaries of luxury.

    The event wasn’t just about trophies but also about big conversations. A panel on ‘Experience is Luxury: Redefining Luxury Tourism’ brought together heavyweights including Jyotsna Suri, CMD of Lalit Hospitality Group, Ishika Taneja, miss world tourism India 2018, and Sandeep Marwah, chancellor of Asian Academy of Film & TV, with Suman Billa joining the dialogue.

    The session was graced by Amitabh Kant, former CEO of NITI Aayog and G20 Sherpa, who delivered the keynote as guest of honour. The broader awards programme, packed with global leaders and industry icons, celebrated individuals and brands setting new standards of excellence and inspiration.

    For Redberyl, this win marks more than recognition, it cements the company’s ambition of making India a hub for globally benchmarked, members-only luxury experiences. With innovation stitched into its DNA, the brand is already proving that exclusivity doesn’t need decades to be iconic sometimes, just two years is enough.

  • Sunil Bharti Mittal, Prathap C Reddy & Amitabh Kant honoured at the Business Today MindRush & Best CEO Awards

    Sunil Bharti Mittal, Prathap C Reddy & Amitabh Kant honoured at the Business Today MindRush & Best CEO Awards

    Mumbai: Like every year, the Business Today MindRush and Best CEO Awards, a much-awaited event for India, recently concluded with much pomp and fervour, with the who’s who of India Inc. in attendance. Hosted by the India Today Group, the event serves as a pivotal platform for industry stalwarts, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders to converge, exchange ideas, and recognise outstanding achievements in business leadership.

    The annual event, known for its robust discussions on emerging trends and challenges in the business landscape, witnessed the captains of India Inc. across sectors coming together to share insights and experiences. This year’s BT MindRush was no exception. There were several thought-provoking sessions at the event. Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs and Petroleum & Natural Gas, said that the time had come for the Indian private sector to shed some of its inhibitions and to accept global challenges, which were “low-hanging fruit for them”.

    In another session, India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant said that the country could not only grow on the back of services. “It has to grow in manufacturing, services, sustainable urbanisation, and also agricultural productivity,” he said. Apollo Hospitals Enterprise executive vice chairperson Preetha Reddy said there was an urgent need to transform healthcare into a fundamental right, aligning it with education, while Bharti Enterprises chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal, in a message for young Indian entrepreneurs, said that India was a country of possibilities and opportunities. Federal Bank MD & CEO Shyam Srinivasan said that India was witnessing a Cinderella moment in terms of banking and economy, while ITC Ltd chairman & MD Sanjiv Puri, highlighted the resilience of India, adding that consumer demand should be back in a couple of quarters.

    The highlight of the event was the felicitation of this year’s awardees of the prestigious BT-PwC India’s Best CEOs ranking, where a distinguished panel of industry experts picked the winners awards after a rigorous process.

    This year, telecom tycoon Bharti Enterprises chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal, was honoured as the “Business Icon of the Year”, symbolising resilience and visionary leadership in the face of challenges. The jury also picked India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant as the “Impact Leader of the Year”, a special award underscoring his significant contributions to the country’s economic growth and global stature. Another distinguished awardee was healthcare pioneer Dr Prathap C Reddy. The visionary founder chairman of Apollo Hospitals was honoured with the “Lifetime Achievement Award” for his unparalleled dedication to healthcare and innovation.

    Winners were recognised across diverse sectors of Indian business, including infrastructure, healthcare, consumer goods, IT, energy, and more. The awardees included Kushal N Desai, CMD of APAR Industries, Satyanarayana Chava, founder & CEO of Laurus Labs, and Sunil Vachani, executive chairman of Dixon Technologies (India), among others. Meanwhile, Satish Pai, MD of Hindalco Industries, won in the category of super large companies; Sanjiv Puri, CMD of ITC Ltd for large companies; and Abhyuday Jindal, MD of Jindal Stainless, in the mid-sized category.

    The event also celebrated emerging companies and leaders who are shaping the future of the Indian business landscape. Naresh Jalan, MD of Ramkrishna Forgings, and Pradeep Gaur, CMD of RVNL, were among the distinguished awardees. Business leaders were also recognised for demonstrating exceptional leadership qualities and resilience. Patanjali G. Keswani, CMD of Lemon Tree Hotels, won the “Resilient CEO” award, while K.P. Ramasamy, Chairman of KPR Mill, received the award for “Glocal CEO”.

    Exemplary achievements in deal-making and disruptive innovation were recognised, with LTIMindtree CEO & MD Debashis Chatterjee, receiving the “Best Deal” award, while OfBusiness co-founder & CEO Asish Mohapatra won in the “Unicorn” category.

    India Today group chairman and editor-in-chief Aroon Purie also spoke on the occasion, outlining that while India had made progress on many fronts, there was more work to be done in moving from a regulatory mindset to that of facilitation. He lauded the efforts of the winners in creating enterprises that India can be proud of.

    The special issue of Business Today on India’s Best CEOs was also unveiled at the event.

  • Business Today MindRush & BT Best CEOs Awards: Building resilient & sustainable businesses in a changing world

    Business Today MindRush & BT Best CEOs Awards: Building resilient & sustainable businesses in a changing world

    Mumbai: Business Today MindRush, the flagship annual business event of the India Today Group, is set to be held in Mumbai on Saturday, 9 March, 2024. Renowned as one of India’s most esteemed thought-exchange platforms, MindRush brings together top business executives, entrepreneurs, thinkers, and experts to share insights, strategies, and successful leadership traits in an era of dynamic change.

    In keeping with tradition, Business Today MindRush will also feature the winners of the BT-PwC India’s Best CEO Awards, which honours the exceptional leadership of some of India’s top business executives. The awardees are selected by a distinguished group of business professionals to recognise India Inc.’s innovative leadership. A special edition of Business Today that includes in-depth stories about the winners, highlighting their creative approaches and significant contributions to the business world, will be released on the occasion.

    The Business Today MindRush platform will play host to some of the most influential voices in business, offering invaluable insights into entrepreneurship, innovation, and excellence that define India’s economic landscape. A stellar line-up of speakers, including luminaries such as Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 Sherpa; Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Enterprises; Sanjiv Puri, CMD of ITC Ltd; Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise; and Jinal Mehta, MD of Torrent Power promises to keep attendees immersed in thought-provoking discussions on changing paradigms in business and economy.  Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs and Petroleum & Natural Gas, will also be in attendance and highlight the government’s vision for economic growth and urban development. 

  • CNBC-TV18 launches Future. Female. Forward Season 2 in New Delhi!

    CNBC-TV18 launches Future. Female. Forward Season 2 in New Delhi!

    Mumbai: CNBC-TV18 proudly announced the successful launch of HSBC presents CNBC-TV18’s Future. Female. Forward – The Women’s Collective Season 2, an impactful initiative aimed at fostering gender parity and inclusivity within the workforce and beyond. The inaugural event, held on 10 February 2024, at The Imperial Lawns in New Delhi delivered meaningful insights and highlighted the importance of gender equality and equity in driving innovation and sustainable growth.

    The evening started with a spectacular musical performance by The Delhi Police’s All-Women Band, featuring 85 talented female officers. Setting the tone for the evening in her welcome address,CNBC-TV18 managing editor  Shereen Bhan said, “Our campaign aims to spark genuine discussions on women’s economic empowerment and their role in the economy. We’ve successfully brought this conversation nationwide through ‘Future. Female. Forward – The Women’s Collective’ and globally at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2023 and 2024. We also aimed to promote gender balance in organisations by compiling best practices and actionable solutions from diverse leaders over the past year.”

    Emphasising on the topic ‘Interaction on Championing Gender Inclusion’, HSBC India CEO Hitendra Dave said, “We are honoured to have partnered with CNBC-TV18 on a cause that has ignited conversations, both within HSBC and on broader platforms. Our commitment to fostering equality of opportunity, including gender parity, is paramount. Through transparent practices such as disclosing pay by gender and implementing fair recruitment, promotion, and evaluation processes, we are fostering open dialogue and tangible change. We recognize the importance of diversity not only as a social imperative but also as a strategic advantage, enabling us to better serve our diverse customer base”. He added, “Achieving 100% equality of opportunity is our ultimate goal, ensuring that biases are eliminated and all individuals are given fair consideration in every aspect of our operations”. Followed by the same, the evening witnessed the unveiling of the unique Future. Female. Forward Sustainable-First Logo.

    A special discussion on the topic of ‘India’s Alliance for Global Good’ featuring minister of women & child development Smriti Irani, in conversation with Shereen Bhan, saw the minister stating, “Today women stand shoulder-to-shoulder with men in every field. Currently, 30 crores of Mudra loans are availed exclusively by women. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 80% of the workforce producing PPE suits comprised women, showcasing their resilience and dedication. Additionally, 6 million frontline workers, predominantly women, tirelessly provided door-to-door medical services. This paradigm shift reflects India’s commitment to its promises. As a nation, we serve as a unifying force and can bridge divides in a fragmented world. India also spearheaded discussions on gender parity within the G20, leading to the establishment of a dedicated working group. We are optimistic that India’s commitment to global welfare will translate into meaningful action”.

    In an insightful fireside chat with Shereen Bhan, Franklin Templeton Investments CEO  Jenny Johnson said, “I was reminded of something that my daughter once said. I asked a question to my 5 kids, whether they want to join me in this business or not and one of my daughters refused and said, no mom I would rather do something that helps people. It was an enlightening moment for me because I realised we need to describe this business in a different way. Though we help people with important goals in their life all the time, we didn’t describe it that way. Once we start communicating in a way that resonates with women, then we will attract more women to it.”

    The evening unfolded by facilitating and celebrating some of the most inspiring women achievers. Actor Gul Panag, Captain Shivani Kulkarni, Pilot, Harshini Kanhekar, India’s first female firefighter, and Brave Souls founder and director Shaheen Malik, were felicitated as the unstoppable icons of Future. Female. Forward – The Women’s Collective. While, Col Bindu Nair of the Indian Army, Ravneet Kaur, chairperson of the Competition Commission of India, lieutenant commander Prerana Deosthalee, of Indian Navy, Suman Nalva, DSP, PRO, Delhi Police and Ajaita Shah, founder and CEO of Frontier Markets were felicitated as inspiring women achievers. Furthermore, Annapurni Subramaniam, director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Upasna Taku, co-founder and COO of MobiKwik, Neha Kirpal, social entrepreneur, Arati Devi, India’s youngest elected sarpanch from Dhunkapada Gram Panchayat in Ganjam district, Odisha and Nigar Shaji Indian Aerospace Engineer, ISRO were recognised as women pioneers.

    Lieutenant commander Prerana Deosthalee from the Indian Navy said, “I am thankful to the Navy for entrusting me with the command of a Naval warship. It reflects their belief in my capabilities, and I am grateful for that. This achievement reaffirms the importance of believing in oneself, and I am pleased that my perseverance through life’s ups and downs has paid off. I am genuinely happy and proud.”

    India’s first female firefighter Harshini Kanhekar expressed, “Unfortunately, my attempts to join the Indian Air Force and subsequently the Indian Army were unsuccessful. Despite these setbacks, I remained resilient and pursued other avenues. A friend suggested I explore the National Fire Service College to fulfill my desire to wear a uniform. Unaware that the college had no female students, I applied, nonetheless. Upon visiting the college with my father, an individual remarked that ‘this college is not made for you, please go somewhere else’. However, determined to prove them wrong, I successfully passed the entrance exam and enrolled as the sole female student among a cohort of 2000 men.”

    The evening featured an engaging fireside chat with Franklin Templeton president & CEO Jenny Johnson, moderated by Shereen Bhan, where she discussed her career, journey, and her transition to becoming a CEO. Following that, Competition Commission of India (CCI) chairperson Ravneet Kaur, delivered a TED-style talk.

    Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson of HCLTech said, “I believe that as we strive for inclusivity across genders, especially by enhancing female representation in the future, it’s vital to evaluate how our initiatives actively contribute to a cultural transformation within our organization and institution. This shift is pivotal in preparing us to embrace diversity more effectively, which positively impacts every aspect of our endeavours.”

    Additionally, Amitabh Kant, former CEO of NITI Aayog, talking about the event said, “I find it remarkable that women in India have increasingly taken active roles in various government initiatives, including housing, Mudra loans, and the digital movement. India’s prioritisation of women’s development as a key agenda at the G20 summit represents a significant milestone for the nation.”

    This was followed by the third and final session with the leaders on “Bridging the Gender Gap: Strategies for Equality & Inclusion”. The panellists for the same were Ravi Kumar, CEO of Cognizant; Anil Chadha, divisional chief executive of ITC Hotels; Hitendra Dave, CEO of HSBC India; Kami Viswanathan, Sr VP – Middle East Indian Subcontinent and Africa Operations FedEx; Herve Delphin, EU ambassador of India.

    Talking about Gender Parity at work FedEx president – Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa Kami Viswanathan said “It is essential to offer mentorship and sponsorship to facilitate women’s progression into senior leadership positions. Both male and female leaders need to actively support and invest in the potential of women. Our initiatives prioritize mentorship and hands-on experiences to elevate the representation of women in senior management roles. Moreover, featuring senior female leaders as role models illustrates to our teams that such accomplishments are achievable. These efforts reflect our continuous commitment to advancing gender diversity and equality.”

    Adding to that ITC Hotels divisional chief executive Anil Chadha said, “At ITC, diversity, equity, and inclusion are paramount priorities, underscored by robust policies implemented across all divisions, each dedicated to significant efforts in advancing these areas.”

    Moving forward, Ghazal Alagh, co-founder, Honasa Consumer Pvt Ltd; Hepzibha Pathak, global brand director at Ogilvy & Mather, Anju Srivastava, founder of Wingreens, and Harmilan Bains, Athlete were also felicitated at the event for their inspiring contributions. The evening wrapped up with an enthralling closing performance by Vanika Sangtani, storyteller & poet, reinforcing the campaign’s purpose and entailing the life story and journey of a woman, in a beautiful and poetic manner.

    Future. Female. Forward – The Women’s Collective is presented by HSBC India, with HCLTech, ITC and FedEx also supporting the initiative as partners.

  • India should become first country to industrialize without carbonizing; create unique model of development: Amitabh Kant

    India should become first country to industrialize without carbonizing; create unique model of development: Amitabh Kant

    Mumbai: G-20 Sherpa, Government of India, Amitabh Kant, has said that transition to a circular economy can bring significant benefits to India, ranging from environmental conservation to economic growth and job creation. It’s emphasis on reducing waste generation, promoting local production and resource optimization, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions aligns with India’s commitments to sustainable development and climate change mitigation. “When countries like India begin the long march towards growth and development, it must create a unique model of development where we become the first country in the world to industrialize without carbonizing,” he added.

    Addressing the ‘FICCI Circular Economy Symposium’, Kant further stated that it is imperative for India to grow rapidly from the current rate of 7.5 per cent and accelerate the pace of growth to 9-10 per cent per annum in the years to come. The model of development for India has to be very different and to be able to do that we need to focus on bringing renewable energy in India including producing renewable energy and green hydrogen. “India is climatically blessed to produce green hydrogen. Currently the cost of production of green hydrogen is $4.5 per kg and India’s objective is to bring is down to $1 per kg by 2030,” he added.

    Kant highlighted that the world is going through massive disruption and soon the focus will be on electric mobility especially for two, three and four-wheelers. There is also the need to bring in huge energy efficiency along with huge focus on circular economy. He also emphasized that India must give thrust on the process of recycling. Circular economy is an economic system where means of production are organized around recycling, reusing the inputs so that they can be used to reduce environmental emission and facilitate a sustainable mode of production.

    “We need to achieve the circularity of inputs. India is currently not circular, and the economic model is linear. There is a radical need to transit to circular economy as it opens huge possibility of innovation, disruption, help reduce greenhouse emissions,” he added.

    The transition to circular economy can bring significant benefits to India and we need to become the global champions to accelerate this transition process including investing in infrastructure and encouraging innovations, noted Kant.

    Counsellor, head of section – delegation of the European Union to India Dr Michael Bucki, said that there is a huge potential in circular economy between India and the EU and there is a lot of room for mutual learning between the two.

    SABIC VP,  regional head- South Asia & Australia, Janardhanan Ramanujalu, said that rapid urbanization, deforestation, and exponential population are some of the challenges of carbon dioxide imbalance in the atmosphere and all stakeholders need to find a solution to these. “We need to focus on the concept of circular carbon economy. Carbon capture and utilization, recycling carbon-based products, becoming energy efficient and innovation in materials are few steps to achieve circular carbon economy,” he added.

    National CE Committee chair and Mahindra LifeSpace Developers Ltd MD & CEO Amit Shah said that embracing the circular economy will also be an important contribution to societies effort to handle urgent climate change challenges.

    FICCI National CE Committee co-chair and Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail Ltd chief sustainability officer Naresh Tyagi said innovation and collaboration are the way for the industry to move towards a circular economy.

    During the event ‘4th FICCI Circular Economy Awards’ were announced along with the release of ‘National Unified Circularity Measurement Framework’.

  • RCB announces flagship sports conference in partnership with leaders in Sport

    RCB announces flagship sports conference in partnership with leaders in Sport

    Mumbai: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) with its innovation arm—RCB Innovation Lab, has partnered with Leaders in Sport, the premier global sports events and media organisation, to bring the first-ever Leaders Meet to India, scheduled in Bengaluru on 29 and 30 November.

    RCB Innovation Lab is a groundbreaking intersection between sports and business, that aims to generate insights, ideas, methodologies, and products in order to shape the future of sports. Leaders Meet: India aligns seamlessly with RCB Innovation Lab’s mission to further grow sports ecosystem.

    The first-of-its-kind summit is set to host a stellar line-up of global sporting leaders who will collectively delve into the convergence of sports, business, technology, and social impact. They will address critical themes and share insights on multi-faceted topics that are not only shaping the sports industry but are also poised to drive the expansion of India’s future sports market.

    The event will mark a historic occasion and witness insightful discussions in the presence of prominent figures from the sports world such as BCCI honorary secretary Jay Shah, Will Brass (chief commercial officer of the English Premier League), Ellie Norman (chief communications officer of Manchester United), and Charlotte Burr (director of strategy, corporate development & digital, FIFA). Notably, the summit will also feature the Indian badminton legend Pullela Gopichand, Brendon McCullum (former New Zealand skipper and current head coach of England’s Test team), and Olympic Gold Medal winner and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, Italian International Football icon & World Cup winner 2006 Alessandro Del Piero, G20 Sherpa – India & Ex – CEO of Niti Aayog, Government of India Amitabh Kant among many other notable dignitaries.

    Commenting on RCB Innovation Lab bringing leaders meet to India for the first time, Royal Challengers Bangalore vice president & head Rajesh V Menon said, “Growth requires a catalyst; we want to create the perfect conditions for sport and business to thrive – sowing seeds of change through new connections, relationships, opportunities, ideas, and perspectives. We want to make it happen faster by creating optimal conditions – bringing together the very best in the sports industry, both on and off the field. We want to accelerate the process by connecting members of the business & sporting community to the best conversations, the best connections, the best insights, the best solutions, and the best opportunities. I am confident that this confluence of industry stalwarts will help bring out valuable insights and build & engage stakeholders contributing to India in the journey of creating more participants in sports than just spectators”.”

    Leaders in Sport has been in existence for 15 years and has served as a catalyst for bringing together the most prominent figures and groundbreaking ideas in the world of sports. With past editions hosted in key cities like New York, Abu Dhabi, London, Los Angeles, Beijing, and Shanghai, Leaders in Sport has been instrumental in facilitating dialogues and propelling the sports industry towards progress. It continues to lead the way in providing the latest sports business intelligence and delivering exclusive perspectives from global industry leaders at the forefront.

    Sport managing director and leader Laura McQueen said “We stand on the verge of an exciting new chapter in the world of sports. Leaders Meet is not just an event; it’s a convergence of some of the world’s most influential leaders and a platform to usher in a new era for the sports industry in India and Southeast Asia. At the summit, we will witness catalytic discussions, innovative ideas, and a global perspective on how to shape the future of sports.

    We are thrilled to partner with RCB to host this event in India for the first time, and it serves as a testament to our shared vision of unlocking India’s potential as a thriving hub for sports and all verticals in sports, related to business, technology, and social impact. The summit promises to bridge the gap between opportunity and execution, propelling India to the forefront of the global sports landscape.”

    Leaders Meet: India will also see the participation of distinguished government administrators including Amitabh Kant, who served as the G20 Sherpa and previously held the role of CEO at Niti Aayog, and R Vineel Krishna, an IAS officer and Special Secretary to Odisha CM & Secretary of Sports and Youth Services in the Odisha Government. These esteemed individuals will engage in discussions and brainstorming sessions covering innovations in sports technology, business, performance, and social impact during the two-day conference.

    Below is the detailed list of speakers with their theme of the talk:

    1.   Jay Shah: Honorary secretary, BCCI; president, ACC; Chair F&CA Committee, ICC

    Topic: How the BCCI built the IPL, launched the WPL and what it tells us about the future of cricket and the trajectory of Indian sport

    2.   Amitabh Kant: G20 Sherpa – India & ex-CEO of Niti Aayog, Government of India

    Topic: The Indian growth story, the socio-economic opportunities, and the role for sport

    3.   Alessandro Del Piero: Italian International Football icon & World Cup winner 2006

    Excerpts of one of the most picture-perfect careers, multiple series A league titles, World Cup winner, champions league winner. Reflections of an iconic career and the current changing landscape of football and with emerging markets what is the future trend of football, will Europe still be the premier club football destination in the near future.

    4.   Dr. R. Vineel Krishna, IAS: Special Secretary to Odisha CM & Secretary – Sports and Youth Services, Odisha Government
    Topic: How states can drive sports promotion and development – the Odisha model and the future of public-private partnerships

    5.   Brendon McCullum: Head Coach, England Test Cricket Team
    Topic: Leading transformative change in team environments – what’s gone into Bazball?

    6.   Neeraj Chopra: Indian Olympic Gold Medallist and World Champion – Javelin
    Topic: The journey, reflections and path ahead to create more world champions in India.

    7.   Abhinav Bindra: Indian Olympic Gold Medallist and 5-time Olympian, Shooting
    Topic: The future of the Olympic movement and Olympism in India

    8.   Pullela Gopichand: All England Badminton Champion and iconic badminton coach
    Topic: From also-rans to Champions – reflections on the growth of India as a badminton powerhouse.

    9.   Charlotte Burr: Director of Strategy, Corporate Development & Digital, FIFA
    Topic: The importance of India to football and the importance of football to India

    10.   Will Brass: Chief Commercial Officer, Premier League
    Topic: An insider’s account of the business affairs of the #1 football league in the world and its plans in a high-growth market like India.

    11.   Ellie Norman: Chief Marketing Officer, Manchester United
    Topic: Managing a global fan base and an iconic brand through the ups and downs of sport through strategic marketing, partnerships, content and fan engagement

    12.   Scott Munn: Chief Football Officer, Tottenham Hotspur
    Topic: How to harness and internationalise the power of a legacy fan base in the Indian subcontinent.

    13.   Mohammad Bobat: Director of Cricket Operations, RCB. Ex-Performance Director: England Men’s Cricket team.
    Topic: Managing high-performance environments and translating potential to winning performances in a team filled with star players.

    14.   Harsh Jain: Co-Founder and CEO, Dream Sports
    Topic: Helming the largest fantasy sports platform in the world and reflections on engaging 200m+ users.

    15.   Nic Coward: World Renowned Sports Advisor and Ex-Gen. Secretary of the Premier League, Ex-CEO of FA, Ex-Consultant FIFA
    Topic: From market entry to consolidation – how foreign brands and investors can look at opportunities in the Indian sports market

    16.   Max Hamilton: Global Commercial Director, European Tour, Golf. 
    Topic: The journey of building and curating a premium brand identity for a sport and its properties.

    17.   Rufus Hack: CEO, Hawk-Eye Innovations
    Topic: How technology builds trust in sports adjudication

    18.   Shikha Tandon: Former Indian Olympic Swimmer and chief partnerships officer, Svexa
    Topic: How human performance intelligence, physiology, health data science, tech & molecular profiling translate into practical peak sports performance.

    19.   Gareth Balch: Co-Founder and CEO, Two Circles
    Topic: Trajectories and trends in the global sports rights market – from acquisition to measurement

    20.   Anil Jayaraj: CEO, Viacom 18 Sports. 
    Topic: Delivering one of the largest sports leagues in the world from rights acquisition planning to advertising to operational execution to broadcast/innovations.

    21.   Abhijit Bhattacharya: Founder, Brahmaputra Volleyball League, former captain of the Indian volleyball team
    Topic: Learnings from building a community sports league

    22.   Nitish Chiniwar: Founder and CEO, Bridges of Sports Foundation
    Topic: Making the community a stakeholder in the sporting journeys of athletes

    23.   Rohini Mukherjee, Head – Global Partnerships & Strategy, Naandi Foundation
    Topic: Empowering India’s adolescent girls through sport – The Toofan Games.

  • Aroon Purie, RC Bhargava, Rohini Nilekani, given Managing India Award

    Aroon Purie, RC Bhargava, Rohini Nilekani, given Managing India Award

    Mumbai: India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant presented the Managing India Awards at the Golden Jubilee National Management Convention in New Delhi.

    The India Today Group founder, publisher and editor-in-chief Aroon Purie got the Lifetime Contribution to Media Award while Maruti Suzuki India Ltd chairman R C Bhargava received the Lifetime Contribution Award. Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies chairperson Rohini Nilekani took the Corporate Citizen Award. All awardees were joined by their spouses during the presentation of trophies.

    The citations for the awards were read by Hero Enterprise chairman Sunil Kant Munjal, television show host Rajiv Makhni, and renowned cinema actor and director Nandita Das.

    Presenting the awards, Kant said that it was a great honour for him to present awards to three great people who he had grown up admiring.

    Sharing his experience as India’s G20 Sherpa, Kant said that it was a job of taking one’s leader to the top of Mount Everest.

    Talking about India’s strategy and achievements during its presidency of G20, Kant said that the PM wanted the opportunity to be used to transform the districts and cities where the 220 G20 meetings were to take place, which was done.

    The negotiations proved tougher than anticipated, Kant said. However, he could be ambitious and courageous as G20 Sherpa because he had the full backing of the Prime Minister. “The PM’s directive was to be decisive and action oriented,” he said. It took nine days of non-stop negotiations in a room without phones, away from the media, to achieve consensus on the Russia-Ukraine statement. “We pushed the limits and took it to the level of brinkmanship to achieve success,” he said.

    India demonstrated its ability to drive multilateralism and bring everybody on board, Kant said, and attributed India’s ability to do so to India’s status as the 5th largest economy in the world.

    Talking about pushing the agenda of global south in G20, Kant said that the PM wanted India to put the global south first and India’s G20 presidency began with a virtual meeting of the region’s countries. This year, 80 per cent of the global growth came from the south, he pointed out.

    Kant said that India managed to achieve consensus on every issue, including redesigning the multilateral institutions, pushing digital public infrastructure, climate change, climate finance, green growth, women-led development, and inclusion of Africa. He pointed out that India achieved 112 outcomes during its presidency of G20 compared to 50 by the previous president, Indonesia.

    India’s digital public infrastructure was a key focus during the presidency, as 133 countries lack fast payment systems. “It became important to evangelize DPI model, which is open and interoperable unlike the big tech model of the US and China,” he said.

    Accepting the Managing India Award, Purie said that he was delighted to receive the award at this particular time because the media has become the whipping boy for everyone and everyone blames all ills of the society on the media. “We’re not perfect. Bad apples exist in every industry and profession. Aren’t there bad apples in business and bureaucracy?” he said.

    Stressing the importance of the media in today’s India, Purie said,”A free press is essential for our democracy, especially when democracy is not functioning so well…when more debates are held on television than in Parliament.” Purie expressed worry about the epidemic of fake news, and the potential of AI to make it worse. “Truth is in danger of becoming an endangered species…journalists have to step up and do their job honestly,” he said.

    Bhargava said that the award was somewhat an anomaly because when he joined Maruti, he knew nothing about management. He credited his colleagues for teaching him management. “Individuals can never achieve. All achievements are collective,” he said.

    In her acceptance speech, Nilekani said, “We live in complex and challenging times. We need to cultivate empathy, self-restraint and charity to create a successful samaaj, a safe harbour for our children and grandchildren.”

    Opening the awards ceremony, AIMA president Shrinivas Dempo brought attention to the focus of the 50th National Management Convention and emphasized that India needed to raise its thinking and action to the next level. “The new India needs a new dream – a dream of being a country with high standards of living for every Indian, a dream of being an evolved country that offers the world new models of economy, democracy, governance, technology, and culture,” he said.

    AIMA senior vice president Nikhil Sawhney thanked Kant for presenting the awards and congratulated the winners. “Each one of you is special and each one of you has made a transformative contribution in a critical sector of the Indian economy,” he told the awardees.

    Rieter India Pvt Ltd co-chairman Sudhir Jalan introduced the awards and complimented the jury for its excellent selection of awardees.

    The awards ceremony was live-streamed on AIMA’s social media channels. 

  • Decoding G20: NDTV mega conclave brings together the biggest names behind India’s G20 success on one platform

    Decoding G20: NDTV mega conclave brings together the biggest names behind India’s G20 success on one platform

    Mumbai: How has India shaped the G20? How has the G20 presidency shaped India’s global future? NDTV’s day-long mega conclave brings the biggest names behind India’s G20 success on one platform.

    As they talk to the ministers right at the center of India’s G20 success, the G20 sherpa and chief coordinator, foreign policy experts, the World Economic Forum chief and voices from the global south, the conclave promises to dejargonise the often complex vocabulary around international summits.  

    The power-packed offering starts with Piyush Goyal, India’s Union minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, decodes India as a business powerhouse.

    G20 sherpa, Amitabh Kant delivers a powerful keynote address bringing together the India success story within G20.

    McKinsey and Company’s global managing partner Bob Sternfels presents an exclusive report on Sustainable and Inclusive growth in G20 economies, followed by a session with Amitabh Kant, Bob Sternfels and McKinsey & Company’s India managing partner Rajat Dhawan.

    How did India push its cause of just energy transition? We chat with Hardeep Singh Puri,

    Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Housing and Urban Affairs.

    India as an architect of the new digital economy? Listen in to an information packed conversation with Information Technology, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship minister of state Rajeev Chandrasekhar.  

    Harsh Vardhan Shringla, chief coordinator for India’s Presidency of G20, breaks down how India pulled off maximum meetings across the largest geography in the past 9 months, and how the mega G20 events came together.

    In a panel discussion, Meera Shankar, Former India Ambassador to the former US ambassador, Ashok Malik, Partner & Chair, The Asia Group and C Rajamohan, Senior fellow, Asia Society Policy Institute, discuss how India emerged as a global leader in the midst of shifting geopolitical lines.

    An important panel on The Voice of The Global South has panelists Borge Brende, President World Economic Forum, N K Singh, Co-Convener, G20 Independent Expert Group on Reforms in Multilateral Development Banks, and Vera Songwe, Chair and Founder, Liquidity and Sustainability Facility, Africa Growth Initiative, Brookings Institution, debating the often skewed economics of development.  

    How did India’s presidency shape G20? Alexander Ellis, UK’s High Commissioner to India, and Atul Keshap, president of US India Business Council give us the view of the Global North.  

    The closing session has India’s Union Minister for Power, New & Renewable Energy, RK Singh, talking about India’s moment under the sun – the power of future energy. 

  • PM Modi to launch Sansad TV on 15 September: Report

    PM Modi to launch Sansad TV on 15 September: Report

    Mumbai: Sansad TV, a new channel created by merging the Lok Sabha TV and the Rajya Sabha TV, will be launched by prime minister Narendra Modi on September 15, according to a report by PTI.

    Along with PM Modi, the channel launch will be attended by vice president M Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla at a function in the parliament building, said the report.

    Retired IAS officer and former textile ministry secretary Ravi Capoor has been appointed as chief executive officer of the channel while the joint secretary in the Lok Sabha secretariat Manoj Arora is the OSD.

    Congress leader Karan Singh, economist Bibek Debroy, Niti Aayog chief executive officer Amitabh Kant, and advocate Hemant Batra will host different shows on the channel.

    The content on the channel will cover subjects such as democratic ethos and institutions of the country. Karan Singh will host a show on different religions, Bibek Debroy on history and Amitabh Kant on ‘Transformation of India’, SAARCLAW vice president Batra will host a show on legal matters. Principal economic advisor to the finance ministry Sanjeev Sanyal will host a show on the economy and esteemed endocrinologist Dr Ambrish Mithai will moderate a show on health issues.

    When Parliament is in session, Sansad TV will have two channels that will broadcast the proceedings of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha simultaneously.