IIM Kozhikode And Emeritus Commence ‘AI Officer Programme’ To Build Future-Ready AI Leaders

As artificial intelligence transitions from pilot projects to enterprise-wide adoption, the need for leaders who can convert technological innovation into strategic value is growing rapidly. According to the EY CEO Outlook 2025 and EY–NASSCOM AI Adoption Index 2024, 86% of Indian CEOs plan to prioritise emerging technologies in the next 12 months, while 65% of Indian enterprises already have AI strategies in place. Addressing this accelerating shift, the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK), ranked 3rd by the Ministry of Education’s NIRF 2024, in collaboration with Emeritus, has commenced an AI Officer Programme, featuring an online certificate course by Kellogg Executive Education.

 

The AI Officer Programme is designed for senior professionals who are driving digital-first transformations and looking to integrate AI into enterprise strategy. It is ideal for CXOs and business leaders seeking to leverage AI for innovation and growth, technology and data leaders responsible for orchestrating enterprise-wide AI adoption, and consultants or strategists aiming to build scalable, context-driven AI solutions. The programme also caters to functional heads and entrepreneurs who aspire to embed AI in decision-making and business operations to enhance efficiency, agility, and long-term competitiveness.

Speaking on the Programme, Prof. Debashis Chatterjee, Director, IIM Kozhikode, said, “The next frontier of leadership will be defined by our ability to harness the intelligence of machines with the wisdom of mindful leadership. At IIM Kozhikode, we believe in preparing leaders not just for today’s economy, but for tomorrow’s intelligent enterprise. The AI Officer Programme, is a bold step towards shaping professionals who can turn AI into a force for purposeful transformation.”

 

Avnish Singhal, Executive Vice President India & APAC, Emeritus, added, “AI leadership today isn’t just about understanding technology it’s about translating it into strategic advantage. This programme empowers professionals to lead AI-driven transformation, blending innovation, business acumen, and responsible governance.”

 

The AI Officer Programme offers a holistic and practical learning journey, blending academic rigour with real-world applications. Participants will explore six foundational pillars of AI leadership: AI Strategy and Governance, Intelligent Systems Design, Enterprise Transformation, AI Ethics and Regulation, Cross-Functional Communication, and Leadership in the AI Era.

 

The curriculum is delivered through 120+ video lectures, nine live online sessions by IIMK faculty and industry experts, and masterclasses by Kellogg Executive Education faculty, ensuring both global perspective and India-specific relevance. Learners will gain exposure to real-world case studies, including Generative AI and Agentic AI applications, alongside an industry-relevant Capstone Project that helps them create their own AI Transformation Playbook. The programme also features peer learning, success coaching, and networking opportunities, supported by IIM Kozhikode’s and Kellogg’s global academic excellence.

 

Through this programme, participants will be able to:

●       Craft an AI strategy aligned with India’s growth context and global benchmarks

●       Lead digital and AI transformation initiatives across business units

●       Evaluate and deploy the right AI technologies for their industry

●       Navigate AI ethics, governance, and compliance frameworks

●       Build high-performing AI teams that drive innovation and measurable business impact

Programme Details:

●       Start Date: December 30, 2025

●       Duration: 30 Weeks

●       Format: 100% online | 120+ videos | Live-online session by Kellogg faculty and Live-online sessions by IIMK faculty.

●       Time Commitment: 4–6 hours per week

●       Eligibility: Graduate/diploma holder (10+2+3) with minimum 7 years of work experience

●       Programme Fee: INR 3,15,000 + GST

●       Certification:  Upon successful completion, participants will receive a certificate from IIM Kozhikode. Additionally, participants who complete an online course with a minimum grade of 80% will earn a verified digital certificate from Kellogg Executive Education

For more information, visit the programme page here

About Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode:

Started in 1997 with its Post Graduate Programme (PGP), the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK) is on a high growth trajectory today, offering a wide range of academic programmes in the field of management education. These include the Fellow Programme in Management, Executive PG Programmes, Management Development Programmes and Faculty Development Programs. IIMK set up a Satellite campus at Info Park, Kochi, in 2013 dedicated to Executive Education. IIMK has also the unique distinction of launching a PhD (Practice Track) programme for working professionals besides bringing in new dynamic programmes such as the one-year Post Graduate programme in Business Leadership (2019) MBA in Finance and MBA in Liberal Studies & Management (2020). The institute is also home to IIMK LIVE a first-of-its-kind start-up incubation programme and the Indian Business Museum.

IIMK is ranked 3rd as per NIRF India Rankings 2024: Management. The institute also features regularly among top global institutes for its flagship MBA (PGP) and EMBA programme (EPGP) in the QS World University Rankings. The institute has leapfrogged 100 spots to be placed in the Top 151-200 Institutes in Business & Management Studies globally, as per the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024. IIM Kozhikode is also globally accredited by EQUIS (EFMD) and AMBA (UK) and is on the verge of a triple-accreditation crown.

IIM Kozhikode also made its debut in the prestigious Financial Times Rankings in 2023 and was recently ranked #70 among the top-80 open-enrolment executive program providers globally for the year 2024. The feat has further consolidated the 28- year’s IIM’s footing in an exclusive list of the foremost providers of executive education in the world. The institute had also entered in global top-100 at Rank #77 for FT Masters in Management (MIM) 2023 Rankings, for its full time MBA programme. IIM Kozhikode has successfully delivered close to 1300 MDP programmes over the past two decades, training more than 41,000 participants from 150+ organisations, which also includes several Fortune 500 companies in the process.

About Emeritus:

Emeritus offers customised and open programs in India, Singapore, Dubai and other global locations in collaboration with IIM Calcutta Executive Education, IIM Lucknow Executive Education, ISB Executive Education, Harvard Business School (HBS), MIT Sloan, Columbia Business School, Kellogg Executive Education, Berkeley Executive Education, and Wharton Executive Education, amongst other leading Institutions. Our world-class executive education programs, facilitated by eminent program experts, provide an immersive learning experience integrated with actionable insights and practical business applications and are delivered in a range of formats: in-class, online, and blended programs. The Emeritus Group has more than 1,750 employees globally and offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, Shanghai, Singapore, Palo Alto, Mexico City, New York, Boston, London, and Dubai. The company is backed by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Leeds Illuminate, Prosus Ventures, GSV Ventures, Peak XV, Bertelsmann, CPPIB, Accel and SoftBank Vision Fund 2.  For more information, visit https://emeritus.org/

Uber For Business Appoints Rituraj Chaturmohta As Senior Country Manager For India & South Asia

Uber for Business, the enterprise arm of Uber, has appointed Rituraj Chaturmohta as the Senior Country Manager for India & South Asia. In his new role, Rituraj will spearhead Uber for Business’s growth strategy in the region, focusing on strengthening partnerships with organizations, enhancing enterprise mobility solutions, and driving innovation across the corporate travel and employee transportation space.

Rituraj brings extensive experience in two-sided marketplace and platform businesses. Prior to joining Uber, he was at Airbnb as Head of Sales and Business Development, leading teams across supply and demand functions. A former entrepreneur in the hyper-local delivery space, Rituraj brings a deep understanding of India’s dynamic business ecosystem and customer needs.

 

Commenting on the appointment, Eric Lee, Regional General Manager and Head of Uber for Business -APAC, said, “We are delighted to have Rituraj join our leadership team to drive Uber for Business’ growth and partnerships in India and South Asia. His experience in building and scaling platform businesses, combined with his understanding of the Indian market will be instrumental in strengthening our enterprise offering.”

“I am thrilled to join Uber for Business to lead India and South Asia, one of Uber’s most dynamic growth markets. Uber for Business is reimagining how businesses move - with scale, sustainability, and customer centricity at the core. My focus is to deepen Uber’s relationships with our business clients, build tailored mobility solutions that drive measurable ROI, and make Uber for Business a growth partner for every company operating in this region.” said Rituraj Chaturmohta, Senior Country Manager, Uber for Business, India and South Asia.

 

Uber for Business enables 200K+ organizations worldwide to manage travel, meals and commute programs through Uber’s trusted platform. In India, Uber for Business is helping over 8,000 organizations with solutions designed for business travel, daily commutes, and employee shift transportation solutions.

 

About Uber for Business

Uber for Business brings the best of Uber’s innovations and solutions to organizations around the globe with a seamless platform built to help them better support and engage those they employ and serve. With global scale, integrated solutions and exceptional service, Uber for Business empowers organizations to effortlessly streamline business travel, reimagine employee wellbeing, and elevate the customer experience – all while enabling employees to effortlessly leverage the Uber they love and trust in their professional lives. Since launching in 2014, Uber for Business has scaled to 70+ countries and 10,000 cities, and helped 170,000 organizations bring flexibility and efficiency into their operations, while improving employee wellbeing.

S&P Global Ratings Upgrades IREDA’s Long-Term International Credit Rating To ‘BBB’ With Stable Outlook

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) today received an upgrade in its long-term issuer credit rating from S&P Global Ratings, moving to ‘BBB’ from ‘BBB–’, with Stable Outlook. The short-term rating has also been revised to ‘A-2’ from ‘A-3’.

This upgrade brings IREDA’s international credit rating in line with India’s sovereign credit rating, underscoring the company’s strategic importance to the nation’s renewable energy mission.

S&P Global Ratings considered IREDA’s robust asset quality, sound capitalization and strong liquidity profile as key factors behind the upgrade. The rating enhancement is expected to strengthen IREDA’s funding capabilities, reduce its cost of capital and further enhance investor confidence across both equity and debt capital markets, reinforcing its leadership as India’s premier green financing institution.

Commenting on the development, Shri Pradip Kumar Das, Chairman & Managing Director, IREDA, said: “We are delighted with this upgrade by S&P Global Ratings, which not only validates IREDA’s financial strength but also highlights our critical role in India’s renewable energy transition. This alignment with the sovereign rating will enable us to access capital more competitively and deepen investor confidence in our long-term strategy.

Vedanta Resources Achieves Single-Digit Cost Of Debt And Extends Average Maturity Beyond Four Years

·         Recent $500 million bond issuance strengthens funding base and clears near-term maturities.

·         VRL now has no material debt due for the next three years.

·         Core businesses continue to deliver strong cash flows.

Vedanta Resources Limited stated in a letter to bondholders that the average maturity of its debt portfolio is now over four years, and it has reduced its weighted average interest cost to single digits, reflecting a stronger, more resilient capital structure. The publication has seen a copy of the letter.

Vedanta Resources said it completed a $500 million bond issuance, using proceeds to repay near-term obligations, including a $550 million Private Credit Facility (PCF), in line with its deleveraging roadmap. “With this, the Group now has no material maturities until FY27, ensuring a well-balanced liability structure.”

“The Group maintains robust liquidity, supported by dividend inflows from operating subsidiaries and healthy free cash generation,” the company added.

The company has tied up a $500 million term loan facility with a consortium of leading global and Indian banks. It maintains a long-term loan facility with undrawn balances of $682 million. Dividend inflows from operating subsidiaries and healthy free cash generation further support robust liquidity, Vedanta Resources said.

Operationally, Vedanta’s core businesses of Zinc, Oil & Gas, Aluminium, and Power continue to deliver strong EBITDA and cash flows. Commodity prices, the company noted, have remained resilient despite global trade disruptions, supporting profitability. The ongoing demerger of Vedanta Limited into five independent sector-specific entities is progressing as planned, with the aim of unlocking value, enhancing transparency, and enabling sharper capital allocation, Vedanta Resources said.

The company reaffirmed its commitment to financial discipline, stating that it will continue to honour all debt obligations and sustain its deleveraging trajectory through internal accruals, strategic refinancing, and capital optimization. “Your continued trust and support have been instrumental in enabling these results,” Vedanta said in the letter, emphasizing its focus on disciplined capital management and long-term value creation.

Vedanta Resources has reduced its debt by more than $4bn since FY22, with total gross debt falling from $9.1 billion in fiscal 2022 to $4.8 billion as of June 2025. The company has also focused on consolidating its debt, which has helped in creating a robust capital structure, providing it with strong access to capital markets across the group and longer tenor issuances. As a part of this, it has diversified its credit profile through a mix of bonds and bank loans, while adding new banks to its capital structure

Aarthi Scans Launches India’s First Performance & Longevity Lab - Vital Insights

Aarthi Scans and Labs, India’s largest integrated diagnostics provider, has opened a new performance and longevity lab, Vital Insights, in Anna Nagar. The centre was inaugurated today by renowned Strength and Conditioning Coach, A.T. Rajamani, in the presence of V Govindarajan, Founder and Chairman, Aarthi Scans.

The centre will help individuals go beyond routine & conventional health checkups to understand their body from three critical dimensions namely structural, chemical, and functional. Through advanced diagnostics like DEXA scans, metabolic and blood profiling, strength and balance assessments, Full body MRI imaging and more, the lab will provide a complete view of how one’s body performs and adapts - all under one roof.

Each assessment at Vital Insights is followed by a personalized plan encompassing exercise, nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle recommendations, enabling individuals to proactively take charge of their health and optimize performance.

A.T. Rajamani, Founder of Raccelerate, said, “True performance comes from understanding your body, not just pushing it harder. Vital Insights helps people see clearly how their body works and where it needs support. Whether you are an athlete, a professional, or someone who simply wants to stay healthy, this knowledge allows you to train wisely, recover well, and perform at your best for longer."

Mr Govindarajan, Founder of Aarthi Scans and Labs, said, “When I started Aarthi Scans over 25 years ago, my mission was to make essential diagnostics affordable and accessible to everyone. I believed that the cost to diagnose a disease should never be a barrier to treatment. Today, with Vital Insights, we take that mission a step further, from diagnosing illness to unlocking human potential. By combining advanced tools like DEXA, VO2 Max testing, comprehensive blood biomarkers, strength and balance testing, and full-body MRI- This will be the most comprehensive performance, and longevity assessment available anywhere in the world. This is about proactive, precision-driven health. Helping people not just live longer, but live stronger and perform at their best.”

With the launch of the Anna Nagar branch, Vital Insights strengthens its mission to bring data-driven performance and longevity to more individuals, empowering them to live with clarity, control, and confidence.

About Aarthi Scans and Labs

Founded in 1988 by Mr. V Govindarajan, Aarthi Scans and Labs is India's largest integrated diagnostics provider. With over 70 MRI scanners, 71 CT scanners, and 20 processing labs, Aarthi serves more than 8000 patients daily across cities like Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Kolkata and Bangalore. Renowned for its affordable pricing, quality imaging, and ethics, Aarthi Scans is pioneering a new model of healthcare—where cost never comes at the cost of care.

Celebrate The Beginning Of Forever: The Ultimate Newlywed Gift Edit

The journey of marriage is filled with new beginnings, shared dreams, and moments that become cherished memories. This season, gift the newlyweds something that beautifully complements their next chapter together. Watches that capture the essence of their bond, elegant, enduring, and symbolic of every time they share together. Each pick in this curated guide is designed to blend sentiment with sophistication and serves as a lasting symbol of love and commitment, ensuring these watches serve as keepsakes of love, marking the milestones, memories, and moments that define a lifetime together. 

 

For the newlywed man, the Townsman watch makes a distinguished gift that captures both style and sentiment. This modern icon reveals its intricate automatic movement through a rich grey sunray skeleton dial, offering a captivating view of its inner workings. Designed for precision and effortless wear, it features a self-winding mechanism and a supple brown leather strap that adds a refined touch. Perfect for marking a new beginning, the Townsman stands as a timeless symbol of love, commitment, and everyday elegance.

 

For the newlywed woman, the Raquel watch makes a graceful and meaningful gift that celebrates her new life. Featuring a 23mm silver satin dial with a three-hand date movement, this refined timepiece blends classic beauty with everyday functionality. The two-tone stainless steel bracelet in gold and silver adds a touch of radiance, while the slim 12mm strap and double press deployant buckle ensure a comfortable, polished fit. With its durable stainless steel case, 5 ATM water resistance, and mineral crystal, the Raquel stands as a lasting symbol of love and strength, a perfect companion for every moment in her new journey. 

For a man who has just embarked on a new chapter, the Michael Kors Rhys watch makes an impeccable gift that exudes confidence and modern style. With its bold oversized square silhouette and tonal chronograph functionality, the Rhys transforms from a mere accessory into a statement of individuality. The striking green dial perfectly complements the gleaming gold strap, creating a refined yet contemporary look. Whether worn for special occasions or everyday sophistication, this timepiece captures the spirit of new beginnings with effortless elegance.

 

For the woman who embodies grace and confidence, the Michael Kors Lexington Lux watch makes for an elegant and meaningful gift. A timeless icon with a modern twist, it features a refined 33mm case and a rose gold-tone stainless steel bracelet that radiates understated luxury. The deep navy dial is beautifully complemented by a glitz topring, adding just the right touch of sparkle, while the date function and chronograph dials bring both style and substance. With its beveled stainless steel bezel and signature three-link bracelet, the Lexington seamlessly blends classic charm with refined design, a perfect piece to celebrate love, milestones, and every unforgettable moment ahead.

For the woman beginning a new chapter,, this petite square timepiece makes a graceful and meaningful gift to mark the start of her new journey. Its distinctive slanted multilink bracelet brings a modern twist to a classic silhouette, blending heritage inspiration with fresh appeal. The rose gold-tone case and bracelet, paired with a textured tonal dial, create a warm and refined look that beautifully complements her glow. Elegant yet versatile, this watch stands as a lasting reminder of love, new beginnings, and moments meant to be treasured.

Sundowner Evenings At The Taj Bangalore’s Lobby Lounge

When the city’s golden hour arrives, there’s no better place to savour it than Taj Bangalore’s Lobby Lounge. With its elegant interiors opening onto a breezy alfresco setting, it’s the city’s go-to for slow sunsets, great conversations, and finely crafted cocktails.

From 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM daily, the lounge turns on its charm with a Sundowner Beverage Promotion that offers a tempting 1+1 experience on a curated selection of cocktails and premium spirits. Think of relaxed after-work gatherings, easy unwinding weekends, and those early evening catchups that stretch effortlessly into the night.

Pair your drink with something delicious from the refreshed ࠬa carte menu—where regional favourites meet global flair. Don’t miss the signature Southern Twist, created to perfectly complement the evening’s vibe.

Sip Highlights:

• Peach and Basil Sour — a crisp, aromatic blend that’s as uplifting as a light summer breeze.

• Sesame and Banana Rumtini — bold espresso, banana, and toasted sesame come together in one smooth, stylish creation.

Where: Lobby Lounge & Alfresco, Taj Bangalore
When: Daily, 6 PM – 8 PM
Pricing: la carte
For Reservations: +91 9513396501