Rupert Murdoch Steps Down as Chairman of Fox, News Corp
Australian-American business magnate and media proprietor Rupert Murdoch stepped down as the chairman of Fox Corp and News Corp, ending a more than seven-decade career during which he created a media empire spanning from Australia to the United States. He will step down as chairman of each board effective as of the upcoming Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of each company in mid-November.
His son, Lachlan Murdoch, will become the sole chairman of News Corp and continue as the chair and CEO of Fox.
TCS and BankAxept AS Partner to Enhance Norway's Payment System
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) entered into a partnership with BankID BankAxept AS, the provider of Norway's national payment and electronic identity systems. This alliance aims to establish and manage an operations command centre.
BankAxept, the dominant national payment system in Norway, facilitates 80 per cent of card payments in the country. Meanwhile, BankID serves as Norway's primary eID verification solution, relied upon by over 90 per cent of the population, as well as banks, public institutions, and commercial enterprises. New regulations mandate BankID to deliver users a compliant, trustworthy, and secure electronic identity solution, complemented by round-the-clock support.
As per the agreement, TCS will construct and oversee a 24x7 operations command centre in Oslo, Norway, catering to all BankID BankAxept AS users and clients. This facility will ensure responses to any service disruptions, security concerns, or client requests pertaining to Norway's crucial national payments and electronic identity verification systems.
RBI Proposes Lenders Identify 'Wilful Defaulters' Within Six Months
The Reserve Bank of India proposed that lenders should label defaulting borrowers as wilful defaulters within six months of an account turning non-performing.
The central bank identifies wilful defaulters as those who have the ability to pay a bank's dues but do not or divert bank funds. The RBI did not earlier have a specific timeline within which such borrowers had to be identified.
The regulator proposed that non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) should also be allowed to tag accounts using the same parameters.
Sep 23, 2023
RBI Allows HDFC AMC's Stake Acquisition in DCB Bank, Karur Vysya, 2 Others
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved HDFC Asset Management Company (HDFC AMC) acquiring a 9.5 per cent stake each in DCB Bank, Karur Vysya Bank, Federal Bank and Equitas Small Finance Bank.
RBI's approval is valid for one year from the approval date. The central bank also told HDFC AMC that its shareholding in both the private banks should not exceed 9.5 per cent.
Axis Bank Launches 'NEO for Business', a Mobile-first Business Banking Proposition for MSMEs
Axis Bank announces the launch of 'NEO for Business', a distinctive Transaction Banking platform specially curated for the Indian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME's). This is first of its kind comprehensive digital proposition that caters to the real, current, and emerging Transaction Banking needs of MSMEs.
Keeping in mind the evolving business needs of MSME's and challenges they face, Axis Bank's NEO for Business platform offers a wide array of Banking and Beyond Banking features.
With the wide array of Banking and Beyond Banking distinctive features, MSMEs can now enjoy enhanced convenience and productivity, as they can complete their banking transactions 'on-the-go', without visiting a bank branch.
Sep 22, 2023
Aparna C. Iyer New CFO of Wipro
Wipro's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jatin Dalal resigned with immediate effect to pursue other career opportunities.
It came at a time when the IT firm has been battling several high-level exits in the recent past.
Dalal, a Wipro veteran for 21 years, was replaced by Aparna C. Iyer.
Over the years, Dalal has worked in diverse roles in the finance vertical. He was also on the investment committee of Wipro Ventures – the company's $100 million strategic investment arm that focuses on investing in early to mid-stage start-ups.
PFC Signs MoU with SJVN for Renewable Energy Projects
Power Finance Corporation (PFC) inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with state-owned hydro power firm SJVN Ltd, committing to finance the latter's renewable energy and thermal power projects. The deal is valued at Rs. 1.18 trillion and aims to set up 12 gigawatt (Gw) of power generation capacity, predominantly from renewable sources such as solar, wind, and pumped hydro, along with a 660 megawatt thermal power project.
Sep 21, 2023
Cricketer Deepak Chahar Launches New Brand 'DNINE Sports'
Cricketer Deepak Chahar, known for his stellar performances on the cricket field, ventured into the world of sports equipment with the launch of DNINE Sports. With an investment of Rs. 2.5 crore, this sports line promises to revolutionize athletic gear, offering a wide range of products catering to the needs of athletes, including professional cricketers.
DNINE Sports adopts a multi-pronged approach to distribution, both online and offline. It discusses the company's strategy for reaching consumers through various channels and the importance of word-of-mouth marketing in building brand awareness.
Competition Commission of India Gets Three New Members
The government appointed three new members to the Competition Commission of India (CCI). These include a former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and a lawyer.
Among the new members is Anil Agrawal, a 1988-batch IPS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre. Agrawal earlier handled ecommerce and start-up policies at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
The other two members are Sweta Kakkad and Deepak Anurag.
Kakkad is the first member of the CCI purely from the private sector. She is a lawyer, who had served as an interim chief compliance officer at WhatsApp. Anurag is a former Additional Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is the chief national competition regulator in India. It is a statutory body within the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
The commission was established on 14 October 2003. It became fully functional in May 2009 with Dhanendra Kumar as its first Chairman.
Biocon Appoints Peter Bains as Group CEO
Biocon announced that its Board approved the appointment of Peter Bains as the Group CEO. He will be reporting directly to Biocon Group Chairperson, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.
Bains stepped down from his role on the Biocon Board as an Independent Director and assumed this strategic executive responsibility.
As per Shaw, Peter has a unique fit and profile for the role having both extensive global leadership experience and success across the biopharmaceutical field and a comprehensive understanding of the Biocon Group, having led Syngene for 5 years, taking it through its very successful IPO in 2015.
Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Introduces Maxima Savings Account
Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (Ujjivan SFB), a leading small finance bank, announced the introduction of the 'Maxima Savings Account and Business Maxima Current Account for the premium customer segment. These new offerings aim to improve the banking experience for both new and existing customers by providing a variety of services and benefits. The products are designed to provide customers with various benefits, superior features, and a premium experience to meet their various financial and banking needs.
Sep 20, 2023
ACKO Launches 'Health Insurance ki Subah ho Gayi Mamu' Campaign for Platinum Health Plan
ACKO, a leading insurance company, unveiled its latest health insurance offering called the 'ACKO Platinum Health Plan'. This comprehensive plan boasts several notable features, including 100% bill payment, no room rent capping, and zero waiting periods. To promote this new product, ACKO reintroduced the beloved characters of Munna Bhai and Circuit from the iconic Bollywood movie. The campaign is aptly titled 'Health Insurance ki Subah ho Gayi Mamu' and has been directed by renowned filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani. Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi reprise their original roles in the campaign.
The series of advertisements within the campaign focus on educating the audience about several critical aspects of the ACKO Platinum Health Plan:
Zero Waiting Period: The campaign highlights the plan's unique feature of zero waiting periods, ensuring immediate coverage for policyholders.
100% Bill Payment: ACKO emphasizes its commitment to covering 100% of the medical bills, alleviating financial burdens during health crises.
IREDA Signs MoU with Bank of Maharashtra for Financing Renewable Energy Projects
Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), a Mini Ratna (Category – I) Government of India enterprise under the administrative control of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bank of Maharashtra (BoM). This collaboration aims to promote and facilitate co-lending and loan syndication for a diverse spectrum of Renewable Energy projects across the nation.
The MoU comprises several services including co-lending and co-origination support for all Renewable Energy projects, facilitating loan syndication and underwriting, management of Trust & Retention Account for IREDA borrowers, and a commitment to establishing stable fixed interest rates spanning a period of 3-4 years for IREDA borrowings. Under this agreement, Bank of Maharashtra can invest in the Bonds issued by IREDA in accordance with the specified terms and conditions of the offering.
The MoU was signed by General Manager (Technical Services), IREDA, Bharat Singh Rajput and General Manager (Retail & MSME Credit), Bank of Maharashtra, Rajesh Singh at IREDA's Business Centre, New Delhi.
Sashidhar Jagdishan Reappointed as HDFC Bank MD & CEO
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the reappointment of Sashidhar Jagdishan as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive officer (CEO) of HDFC Bank for three years starting from October 27, 2023.
In March 2023, HDFC Bank board had recommended the re-appointment of Jagdishan for a period of three years.
Jagdishan took charge as the MD & CEO of the largest private-sector lender in October 2020, after Aditya Puri retired.
Jagdishan, who has an overall experience of 31 years in the industry, joined the bank in 1996 as a manager in the finance function.
Dhananjay Joshi Appointed Chairman of Telecom Industry Body DIPA
Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA) appointed Dhananjay Joshi, MD and CEO of Summit Digitel, as the Chairman.
DIPA also named Sandeep Girotra, CEO of American Tower India, as the new vice chairman of the association.
The Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA) is a non-profit industry body that represents the digital infrastructure industry in India. It was founded in 2010 as the Tower and Infrastructure Providers Association (TIPA), but was renamed DIPA in 2020 to reflect the broader scope of its membership.
DIPA's mission is to promote the growth and development of the digital infrastructure industry in India.