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Satya Nadella skips managers to hear engineers on AI

Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella has introduced a new way of running discussions around artificial intelligence (AI) at the company. He has started weekly meetings focused only on AI, where senior managers are not allowed to present. Instead, Nadella wants to hear directly from Microsoft’s engineers and technical teams who are building AI products.

The idea behind this move is simple: Nadella believes that important information often gets delayed or softened as it passes through layers of management. By speaking directly to engineers, he hopes to get honest, real-time updates on what is working, what is not, and what needs urgent attention. These meetings are meant to cut through internal bureaucracy and help Microsoft move faster in the highly competitive AI space.

According to reports, these sessions are more informal than traditional leadership meetings. Engineers are encouraged to speak openly about challenges, unfinished work, and technical roadblocks. There are no polished slide decks or rehearsed presentations. Nadella has also created a dedicated internal communication channel so that conversations about AI can continue beyond the meetings.

This approach reflects Nadella’s belief that AI is central to Microsoft’s future growth. The company is investing heavily in AI across products such as cloud services, productivity tools, and enterprise software. With rivals like Google, OpenAI partners, and other tech giants moving quickly, Nadella wants Microsoft to stay agile and responsive.

The new meeting structure is also part of a broader cultural shift at Microsoft. Over the past few years, Nadella has focused on breaking down silos, encouraging collaboration, and empowering employees closer to the actual work. By giving engineers a direct voice, he is signalling that technical expertise matters more than hierarchy when it comes to AI decisions.

Industry experts see this move as a practical step to speed up innovation and improve decision-making. It highlights Nadella’s hands-on leadership style and his view that listening to people on the ground is essential in a fast-changing technology environment.

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Nikhil Kamath, Kishore Biyani launch The Foundery for startups

Entrepreneurs Nikhil Kamath and Kishore Biyani have launched The Foundery, a new programme to help aspiring startup founders turn ideas into real businesses. Unlike traditional courses, this is a 90‑day hands-on, residential programme where participants live and work together on building startups. The goal is to learn by doing, with guidance from experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts.

The Foundery is based in Alibaug, Maharashtra, where selected participants will focus on validating ideas, developing products, testing the market, and shaping business strategies. Instead of classroom lessons, the programme emphasizes practical work to prepare startups for real-world challenges.

A key feature is the equity structure: participants who help build startups can retain up to 25% ownership. Promising startups may also receive seed funding up to ₹4 crore and continued support after the programme.

Applications are open until mid‑January 2026, with a non-refundable ₹5,000 registration fee. The first batch will include around 30 co-founders, and roughly 20 business ideas will be selected for development.

The selection process focuses on creativity, problem-solving, resilience, and a founder mindset, rather than formal degrees or polished presentations. Participants can be aspiring founders, mid-career professionals, or early-stage entrepreneurs ready to relocate for the residential programme.

Mentors include notable names such as Vijay Shekhar Sharma (Paytm), Kunal Bahl (Snapdeal), Mithun Sacheti (CaratLane), and Varun Berry (Britannia), who will guide participants on idea design, execution, and growth.

Each cohort will end with a Demo Day, where startups pitch to investors and explore funding and partnership opportunities.

The Foundery aims to provide a supportive environment for founders to learn, experiment, and scale their ideas into successful startups, bridging the gap between vision and execution in India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

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Call of Duty Co-Creator Vince Zampella dies in car crash

Vince Zampella, co-creator of the popular Call of Duty video game franchise, has died in a car crash in California. He was 55.

The accident occurred on Sunday afternoon on the Angeles Crest Highway near Los Angeles, when the Ferrari he was driving lost control, hit a concrete barrier and caught fire. A passenger in the car was also killed. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.

Zampella was a highly influential figure in the gaming industry. He co-founded Infinity Ward and later Respawn Entertainment, creating hit titles such as Titanfall, Apex Legends and the Star Wars Jedi series.

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B P Kanungo appointed IIFL finance chairman

IIFL Finance Ltd, a leading non-banking financial company (NBFC) in India, has appointed B.P. Kanungo, former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), as its non-executive chairman. The appointment was made by the company’s board on December 19, 2025, and takes effect immediately.

Kanungo brings over 40 years of experience in banking and financial regulation. He served as RBI Deputy Governor from 2017 to 2021 and was part of the Monetary Policy Committee. He has also held senior roles in currency management, payment systems, and consumer protection. His deep knowledge of the financial system is expected to help IIFL Finance strengthen governance and plan its future growth.

Before becoming chairman, Kanungo was already an independent director on IIFL Finance’s board. In his new role, he will guide the company’s strategic decisions and ensure good governance while protecting the interests of shareholders, customers, and regulators. Nirmal Jain, Managing Director of IIFL Finance, welcomed Kanungo’s appointment, saying his expertise will support the company’s next stage of growth.

In the same board meeting, IIFL Finance shared that it has complied with a tax notice from the Income Tax Department. The company paid Rs 1.47 crore as tax for past assessments, confirming that this does not affect its current operations or finances.

The board also approved a proposal to raise the company’s borrowing limit from Rs 35,000 crore to Rs 60,000 crore, subject to shareholder approval. This move will give IIFL Finance more flexibility to expand its lending business and strengthen its financial position.

IIFL Finance offers a variety of loans, including home loans, business loans, microfinance, and gold loans, and serves customers through a wide network across India. With Kanungo as chairman, the company aims to combine strong governance with strategic growth to better serve its customers and investors.

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Elon Musk net worth nears $750 billion

Elon Musk’s net worth has surged to nearly $750 billion after a key US court ruling restored part of his Tesla compensation package. The decision puts him closer to becoming the world’s first trillionaire.

The Delaware Supreme Court overturned a previous ruling that had invalidated Musk’s 2018 pay package, which was tied to ambitious Tesla performance targets. The package grants Musk stock options that, with Tesla’s current share price, are valued at approximately $139 billion. The court said that completely voiding the package would be unfair, given Musk’s six years of work to achieve the targets.

Musk’s wealth comes mainly from his Tesla holdings, including his roughly 12% stake in the company, and stakes in ventures such as SpaceX. With the restored stock options, his estimated fortune on the Forbes Billionaires Index now stands around $749 billion.

The ruling also strengthens Musk’s position in the global wealth rankings. He now far exceeds the net worth of the next richest individuals, including Google co-founder Larry Page. Tesla remains central to his fortune, and the restored options add a significant boost to his overall wealth.

Earlier, Tesla shareholders approved a separate long-term performance-based pay plan for Musk, potentially worth up to $1 trillion. Achieving its full value could push his wealth even closer to the trillion-dollar mark.

This legal victory ensures Musk receives the compensation he earned for Tesla’s growth and reinforces his influence over the company and markets. Analysts say the restored options highlight the importance of executive performance packages in large corporations and how legal challenges can affect personal and market wealth.

The court’s decision underscores the intersection of corporate governance, executive compensation, and shareholder interests, with Musk’s fortune reflecting both Tesla’s success and the growing scale of executive pay in global business.

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British Petroleum appoints Meg O’Neill as CEO

British Petroleum has appointed Meg O’Neill, current CEO of Australia’s Woodside Energy, as its next chief executive officer, effective April 1, 2026. She succeeds Murray Auchincloss, who stepped down on December 18, 2025, and will remain as an adviser until the end of next year to ensure a smooth transition. O’Neill’s appointment is historic: she is both BP’s first external CEO hire and its first woman to lead one of the world’s top five oil majors.

O’Neill brings over 23 years of experience at ExxonMobil, where she held various leadership roles, and has been Woodside’s CEO since 2021. At Woodside, she expanded the company’s global presence and oversaw major transactions, including the acquisition of BHP Petroleum International. BP’s board highlighted her “proven track record of driving transformation, growth, and disciplined capital allocation” as a key reason for her selection. Until O’Neill takes over, Carol Howle, BP’s Executive Vice President for Supply, Trading and Shipping, will serve as interim CEO.

The leadership change comes at a critical time as BP repositions itself toward traditional oil and gas, scaling back earlier renewable energy investments. The company plans to divest around $20 billion in non-core assets by 2027 and increase oil and gas production to improve profitability. The strategic shift is in part a response to shareholder pressure, particularly from activist investors such as Elliott Investment Management, who have pushed for stronger financial performance.

The market responded positively to the announcement. BP shares saw modest gains, while Woodside’s stock dipped following news of O’Neill’s departure. Analysts note that her operational expertise and deep knowledge of the oil and gas sector are expected to help BP navigate the competitive global energy market, where demand for fossil fuels remains strong despite the ongoing energy transition.

O’Neill’s appointment showcases BP’s intent to combine experienced leadership with financial discipline. The move signals a pragmatic approach, focusing on profitability and shareholder value, while balancing the company’s long-term energy transition goals. Observers see this as a significant step in shaping BP’s future amid a dynamic energy landscape, with O’Neill poised to lead the company into a new era of growth and operational focus.

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Shashwat Sharma appointed Airtel CEO

Bharti Airtel has announced a major change in its top leadership. Shashwat Sharma will take over as Managing Director and CEO of Airtel India starting January 1, 2026. He will lead the company for a five-year term.

Sharma has been preparing for this role over the past year, working closely with the current CEO to ensure a smooth transition.

Gopal Vittal, the current CEO, will move to a new role as Executive Vice Chairman. In this role, he will focus on strategy, technology, networks, procurement, talent development, and overseeing Airtel’s group operations.

The company said these changes are part of a planned succession process to maintain leadership continuity and support Airtel’s growth in India’s competitive telecom market.

Other key appointments include Soumen Ray as Group Chief Financial Officer and Rohit Krishan Puri as Company Secretary and Compliance Officer, both starting January 1, 2026.

Sunil Bharti Mittal, Airtel’s Chairman, welcomed the leadership changes and expressed confidence that the new team will guide the company to future success.

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Jared Isaacman officially named NASA Chief

Billionaire entrepreneur and private astronaut Jared Isaacman has officially been confirmed as the new head of NASA, following a 67‑30 vote by the US Senate on December 17, 2025. Isaacman, known for his commercial spaceflights and ties to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, steps into the role at a time when NASA is planning ambitious missions to the Moon and preparing for eventual human exploration of Mars.

Isaacman’s path to NASA is unusual. Unlike previous administrators, he does not come from a traditional space agency background. He is a self-made tech entrepreneur from Pennsylvania, who founded Shift4 Payments as a teenager. He later became a prominent figure in private space travel, flying to orbit on SpaceX missions including Inspiration4, the first all-civilian orbital flight, and Polaris Dawn, during which he reportedly conducted the first private citizen spacewalk.

His confirmation follows earlier political twists. Originally nominated by former President Donald Trump in late 2024, Isaacman’s appointment was withdrawn in May 2025 before being renominated and confirmed in November. Some lawmakers raised concerns about his close links to SpaceX, which holds major NASA contracts, but Isaacman committed to managing potential conflicts of interest.

As NASA administrator, Isaacman will oversee roughly 14,000 employees and a multibillion-dollar budget. He inherits both opportunities and challenges, including tight budgets, workforce reductions, and growing global competition in space exploration, particularly from China.

At his confirmation hearing, Isaacman emphasized the importance of returning humans to the Moon through the Artemis program and preparing for future Mars missions. He also stressed the role of public-private partnerships in accelerating space exploration, signaling a new era where commercial and government efforts work closely together.

Isaacman’s leadership brings a fresh, bold perspective to NASA, combining his entrepreneurial mindset with hands-on spaceflight experience. For many, it represents a shift toward a more dynamic, innovation-driven approach at a historic moment in space exploration, where the next giant leap for humanity could happen sooner than ever.

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B. Sairam appointed chairman of Coal India Limited

B. Sairam has taken charge as the Chairman‑cum‑Managing Director (CMD) of Coal India Limited (CIL), India’s largest coal producer, effective 15 December 2025, according to a company filing. He succeeds Sanoj Kumar Jha, who had been holding the additional charge of the CMD post. The Ministry of Coal appointed Sairam for the role, which will continue until 31 March 2028, the date of his retirement, or until further orders, whichever comes first.

Sairam brings over three decades of experience in the coal and mining sector. Prior to this appointment, he served as the CMD of Northern Coalfields Ltd., a key subsidiary of Coal India. His career spans leadership roles in mine operations, project planning, logistics management, regulatory affairs, and rehabilitation programmes. Analysts expect his experience to be crucial as Coal India navigates challenges such as increasing domestic coal demand, operational efficiency, and environmental compliance.

Coal India Limited, a Maharatna public sector company under the Ministry of Coal, contributes significantly to India’s energy supply, producing more than 80% of the country’s coal. The company’s operations are critical for sustaining power generation and supporting industrial growth.

The appointment of Sairam comes at a time when the government is focusing on enhancing domestic coal production, reducing imports, and ensuring a stable supply for power plants. His leadership is anticipated to strengthen Coal India’s operational efficiency and align its growth with national energy objectives.

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CEO Bhavish Aggarwal sells 2.6 crore Ola Electric shares

Bhavish Aggarwal, co‑founder and CEO of Ola Electric, has sold part of his personal shareholding to fully repay a ₹260 crore promoter-level loan and release pledged shares, according to company filings and exchange data. This one-time bulk sale was aimed at strengthening promoter finances and boosting investor confidence.

On December 16, 2025, Aggarwal sold around 2.6 crore equity shares of Ola Electric at an average price of ₹34.99 per share, raising roughly ₹92 crore. Prior to the sale, he held about 30.02 percent of the company. After the transaction, his stake has reduced slightly, but promoter control remains intact.

Ola Electric clarified that the sale was a personal stake monetisation and does not dilute the promoter’s long-term commitment to the company. Once the ₹260 crore loan is repaid, all previously pledged shares, around 3.93 percent of the company, will be released, removing a key source of market risk and volatility.

The company emphasized that this step aligns with Aggarwal’s objective of operating without leverage at the promoter level. Post-sale, the promoter group’s total holding in Ola Electric is expected to remain around 34 percent, maintaining a strong controlling interest compared to other new-age listed firms.

The bulk sale comes amid a challenging period for Ola Electric, which recently saw a decline in electric two-wheeler sales. In November 2025, the company slipped to fourth place in India’s electric two-wheeler market, with registrations falling compared with the previous month.

The market reacted to the transaction with heightened attention, as investors assessed its implications for share stability and long-term company governance. Analysts note that reducing promoter pledges is generally seen positively, signaling a lower financial risk at the promoter level and improved confidence for shareholders.

By repaying the ₹260 crore debt and removing pledged shares, Aggarwal aims to demonstrate financial prudence and reinforce Ola Electric’s commitment to sustainable growth, while keeping control firmly with the promoter group.

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