MxMIndia

Tag: Abhijit Pawar

  • The SMG and DCF is a platform for development of women, youth and all sections of society, says Delivering Change Foundation founder and chairman Abhijit Pawar

    Sakal says ‘Good Morning’ to change with power-packed forum

    By A Correspondent

     

    What’s a regional newspaper group doing conducting a two-day seminar called ‘Delivering Change Forum’ at Mumbai’s Nehru Centre? A lot of hot air, you think. Especially since it’s got Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in attendance along with the top deck of his administration.

     

    Get ready for the tripe, you tell yourself. And then you see some pictures posted on Facebook by a few A&M land honchos, and you tell yourself that they must’ve been in attendance thanks to the missives from the affable CEO.

     

    So you give Day 1 a miss. The tweets are promising, but then that’s what one expects from the official handle of any event. Hence the first half of Day 2 is also missed, although the session themes are inviting.

     

    You finally do the trek to the venue, with the hope of meeting some old friends and consuming the yum batatavada and samosa at the canteen. Plus some diet cola to free yourself of some guilt. And scan the exhibits at the art gallery or the books published by the Centre which you always look up but never buy.

     

    Enter the large, well-airconed hall of Nehru Centre. The head of one of the country’s biggest design shops does a “hey”. Along with her two others from Pune. And she berates you for having missed the first day and a half. But then she’s a friend and well-wisher of the big boss. You discount some of the praise.

     

    You are then accosted by the marathon banker. You really missed it, he said. We move on. You really liked it, huh, we quizzed him. “Of course”. And he said how he had thought of just dropping by for the inauguration on Day 1 and since then has been riveted. “Couldn’t get up from the seat”. And you meet another adlander-cum-athlete who echoes the same. And yet another.

     

    You finally sit in for the first post-lunch session. Mobile in hand, checked into Whatsappto fighting away possible boredom. Cut to three hours later. Fourteen calls missed. Some more from bank and telco DSAs. Several messages unread. Although one did make a few exits, met the big boss, the namesake, and a few other friends, the sessions were indeed engaging, albeit on softer issues like design.

     

    So here’s a report based on the communique received from the Sakal Media Group on the event:

    “Sakal Media Group organised India’s first “Delivering Change Forum” (DCF) on January 24 and 25 in Mumbai.Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the conference co-organised by Sakal Media Group and DCF (the advisory arm of Sakal Media Group), in cooperation with the Maharashtra government and many institutions from across the globe. “This is the right time to implement new concepts leading to transformation in a country which has the largest youth population in the world. We have to strive hard so that these new emerging concepts reach policy makers and then are implemented,” Fadnavis said.

     

    DCF Founder and Chairman Abhijit Pawar elaborated on the concept of the conference. He said: “Connecting boardroom to grassroots is crucial for bringing about a desired change in society and Delivering Change Forum (DCF) aims at connecting the dots and converging efforts for this transformation”.He further added that ‘Maharashtra which has a large pool of youth and it needs to be channelised to bring about the desired transformation’.  Pawar urged participants to join hands in this work. “The SMG and DCF is a platform for development of women, youth and all sections of society,” he said.

     

    Added Pradeep Dwivedi, CEO, Sakal Media Group: “In today’s context, media has to transcend from being a passive informer and act as vital catalyst for larger change and progress in society. Hence, this conference was designed with enriching content and brought a world class line up of speakers discussing the key trends, innovations and concept proven models, all of which with one objective in mind: To help deliver positive change in society and lead more effectively in the current environment.”

     

    Commented Krishna Menon, CMO, Sakal Media Group: ‘Sakal is fulfilling its social commitment through initiatives such as Tanishka and YIN. As the social change is underway, developments in financial, educational and social sectors should reach all sections of society’.

     

    The event culminated in a dinner over discussions with Ratan Tata, Amitabh Bachchan, Fadnavis (and senior government officials), senior advertising professionals like Sam Balsara, amongst others.”

     

    Notes to oneself: Good Morning! (Sakal is morning in English). Send reminder request to Mr CEO for videos of the two-day proceedings. Pawar-err-Power-packed forum indeed.

     

  • Dwivedi will take charge of print dailies, magazines, television, digital business as well as on-ground activations and innovative media solutions businesses

    It’s official. Sakal Media Group appoints Pradeep Dwivedi as CEO

    By A Correspondent

     

    Pradeep Dwivedi

    We told you saw. As reported by MxMIndia a few weeks back, Sakal Media Group has announced the appointment of Pradeep Dwivedi as Chief Executive Officer for the group’s media business which includes print dailies, magazines, television, digital business as well as on-ground activations and innovative media solutions businesses. He was until recently Chief Corporate Sales and Marketing officer at the Dainik Bhaskar group.

     

    Confirming the appointment, Abhijit Pawar, MD, Sakal Media Group, said: “We are excited to have Pradeep Dwivedi joining us as CEO. His exemplary leadership credentials and relationships across multiple industries and deep understanding of media business will be an asset in driving our growth. This is also in alignment with our group vision of sustainable, equitable and measurable socio economic growth and transformation through all its businesses, and I am looking forward to working with him”

     

    Starting his new role, Dwivedi said “I have admired Sakal Media Group for many years and am delighted, therefore, to have been chosen to lead the company in the next exciting phase of its journey. I am keen to work with all stakeholders to achieve growth and further success in the years to come”

     

    Dwivedi will be based in Mumbai and Pune in his new role. He would also work very closely with other initiatives of the group-led independently by seasoned business leaders such as Delivering Change Foundation projects including YIN- Young Inspirators Network, Tanishka Foundation, Global Inspirators Network in building community networks and delivering Smart Village/Smart City projects.

     

  • The Sakal Media Group (SMG) has partnered with Pemandu ( Performance Management and Delivery Unit) of the Malaysian Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to enable a quick transformation process for a nation or state in any and every sector

    Sakal Media Group partners Malaysian PM’s nation/state transformation plan

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Pune-headquartered Sakal Media Group (SMG) has partnered with Pemandu ( Performance Management and Delivery Unit) of the Malaysian Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to enable a transformation process which can help change a state or a nation in any and every sector within a short-time frame.

     

    This methodology has got global recognition from the likes of Harvard, Princeton, AT Kearney, World Bank and 14 countries who participated in the Big Fast Results (BFR) programme of the Malaysian government.

     

    Abhijit Pawar

    This is perhaps for the first time, that a private sector company like ours is actually partnering with a government entity in this particular field,” said Abhijit Pawar, Managing Director of the media group.

     

    Sakal Media Group’s ‘Delivering Change Programme’ has been endorsed by none other than the Planning Commission of India’s ‘India Backbone Implementation Network’ (IbIn), notes a communiqué. “IbIn has made special mention of Sakal Media Group’s successful, Pune Bus Day on its website, http://ibinmovement.in/   with endorsement for the ‘Delivering Change Programme’ also coming from India@75 (http://www.indiaat75.in/),” it adds.

     

    “The past one year, has seen the Sakal Media Group undertake several, socially oriented campaigns in Pune and Maharashatra starting with the Pune Bus Day, Tanishka Women’s Dignity Forum, Freedom from Drought, Tandurust Bandobast and culminating with the Delivering Change Programme,” added Mr Pawar.

     

    To coincide with this, a 12-pager is being distributed in today’s edition (Oct 30) with Sakal group newspapers across Maharahstra. “Over the last 45 days, the Sakal Media Group has through its initiative ‘Maharashtra’s Expectations’ tried to understand the expectations of the people of Maharashtra about development in different sectors. The discussions not only brought out the issues in various sectors, but also gave the hope that these can be addressed. It is the first attempt in the State and also the first attempt by the media to understand what the people want. While this brainstorming was on, many people wanted to know, ‘what next?’ At a time when everyone only talks about problems rather than solutions, this question is obvious. We will not stop here. Our focus is on finding solutions. We therefore bring you this special issue which talks about solutions and their implementation. It is our ‘Delivering Change Programme’ which will bring about this change. From brainstorming and public awareness, the Sakal Media Group is now moving towards action,” the communiqué signed by Mr Pawar explained.