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OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger joins OpenAI

In a move that reflects the fast-evolving priorities of the global artificial intelligence industry, OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger has joined OpenAI to help build the next generation of personal AI agents — systems designed to independently manage digital tasks for users and enterprises.

Announcing the development, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman described the hiring as part of the organisation’s long-term vision to move AI from conversational support to real-world execution. These emerging “agentic” systems are expected to handle workflows such as scheduling, customer interactions, software operations and service coordination, areas that business leaders see as the next major productivity leap.

Steinberger’s open-source project OpenClaw has, in a short time, become one of the most talked-about innovations in the developer ecosystem, drawing massive global engagement and crossing the 100,000-star mark on GitHub. Its rapid adoption signals a clear market appetite for AI that does more than generate content, AI that can act.

As part of the transition, OpenClaw will move into an independent foundation model with continued support from OpenAI. This structure is seen as a strategic balance between community-driven innovation and enterprise-scale deployment , a model increasingly favoured in deep-tech ecosystems.

For Steinberger, the decision was mission-led. While the platform had the potential to evolve into a high-value standalone company, he chose to align with a larger AI vision to accelerate real-world impact. The move also brings his product-building experience , from his earlier success with PSPDFKit, into one of the world’s most influential AI organisations.

For business and technology leaders, the significance lies in what comes next. Multi-agent AI frameworks, where specialised systems collaborate to complete complex tasks, are now moving from research to application. This has implications for enterprise automation, digital workforce transformation and new operating models.

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Uday Kotak takes charge as Chairman of GIFT City

The Gujarat government has appointed Uday Suresh Kotak as the new Chairman of Gujarat International Finance Tec-City Company Limited, commonly known as GIFT City. The appointment takes immediate effect, according to a government resolution issued on February 13, 2026.

Kotak succeeds Hasmukh Adhia, who had been serving as the Non-Executive Chairman of GIFT City since June 2023. The state government’s move to bring in one of India’s most respected banking leaders is seen as an effort to further strengthen the city’s position as an international financial centre.

Uday Kotak is the founder of Kotak Mahindra Bank, one of India’s leading private sector banks. Over nearly four decades, he built the institution into a diversified financial services group covering banking, insurance, asset management, investment banking and stockbroking. He stepped down as Managing Director and CEO in 2023 and currently serves in a non-executive role at the bank.

GIFT City, located in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, is India’s first operational International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). It was developed to compete with global financial hubs such as Singapore and Dubai by offering tax incentives, regulatory benefits and world-class infrastructure to international businesses. The centre hosts banks, insurance firms, capital market entities and fintech companies operating in foreign currencies.

Recently, the central government extended tax benefits for businesses operating in GIFT City, further boosting its attractiveness for global investors. With over a thousand registered companies and growing international participation, the financial hub is a key part of India’s strategy to expand its presence in global financial markets.

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Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser’s $42 mn pay sparks debate

Citigroup has increased the total compensation of its CEO Jane Fraser to $42 million for 2025, marking a significant rise from the previous year.

The bank’s board approved the higher pay after a strong year for the company’s stock and financial performance. Citi’s share price surged sharply over the past year, outperforming several other major Wall Street banks. The board said the increase reflects confidence in Fraser’s leadership and her efforts to strengthen the bank’s long-term position.

Fraser’s compensation package includes a base salary, cash incentives, and a large portion in stock awards tied to performance. Much of the payout depends on how well the bank continues to perform in the coming years.

However, the pay hike comes at a time when the bank is undergoing major restructuring. Citi has been cutting jobs as part of a broad turnaround strategy aimed at simplifying operations and reducing costs. The company has already reduced its workforce and is expected to eliminate thousands more roles as part of its multi-year transformation plan.

Fraser has been leading efforts to streamline the bank’s global operations, exit non-core businesses, and focus on key markets. The restructuring is designed to make Citi more competitive and improve profitability after years of lagging behind some of its peers.

The contrast between executive compensation and job cuts has drawn attention, but the board maintains that the pay package is performance-based and aligned with shareholder returns.

Citi says the restructuring will ultimately create a stronger and more efficient bank, positioning it for sustained growth in the future.

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Two xAI co-founders step down

Two of the original co-founders of Elon Musk’s AI startup xAI, Yuhuai “Tony” Wu and Jimmy Ba, have resigned, joining a series of departures from the company. Their exit leaves half of xAI’s founding team gone, just a few years after the startup was launched.

Both shared their goodbyes on Musk’s social media platform X, thanking Musk and expressing optimism about the future. Neither revealed detailed reasons for leaving. Their departure follows other senior exits, including engineers and founders, signaling a significant leadership shake-up.

The changes come after xAI’s merger with SpaceX, a move that combines Musk’s AI and space ambitions. The merger, valued at around $1.25 trillion, aims to support projects like space-based AI data centers and advanced computing tools. Plans for a future IPO were also confirmed.

Musk has reorganized xAI around four main areas: chatbot and voice tools, coding support, image and video generation, and advanced AI systems. New leaders have been appointed to head each unit, with Musk emphasizing speed and innovation to stay competitive with rivals such as OpenAI and Anthropic.

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Akasa Air co-founder Praveen Iyer quits

Akasa Air Co-Founder Praveen Iyer Resigns Amid Leadership Changes

Akasa Air is witnessing another senior-level exit with co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer Praveen Iyer stepping down from his role. His departure marks the second major leadership change at the airline in recent months, raising attention in India’s fast-growing aviation sector.

Iyer has been part of Akasa Air’s journey since its launch in August 2022. As Chief Commercial Officer, he played a key role in shaping the airline’s commercial strategy — from route planning and pricing to sales and revenue growth. During his tenure, Akasa rapidly expanded its domestic network and began building its international presence.

Following his resignation, the airline has appointed Anand Srinivasan, currently Chief Information Officer, to lead the commercial function. The company has not publicly shared reasons for Iyer’s exit.

This leadership transition comes after another co-founder, Neelu Khatri, who oversaw international operations, resigned last year. Despite these exits, Akasa has maintained that its expansion strategy remains firmly on track.

Backed by the family of late investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, Akasa Air has also strengthened its financial position with fresh investments from prominent institutional backers. The airline has been adding new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to its fleet and expanding routes to compete with established players in India’s highly competitive aviation market.

Like many young carriers, Akasa has faced industry challenges, including aircraft delivery delays and rising operational costs. However, it has continued to grow steadily, focusing on efficiency, customer experience and network expansion.

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Balaji Krishnamurthy named Uber CFO

Uber Technologies has named Balaji Krishnamurthy as its new Chief Financial Officer, marking an important leadership transition at the global ride-hailing and mobility company.

An Indian-origin executive with deep financial expertise, Krishnamurthy will take over the role from February 16, succeeding Prashanth Mahendra-Rajah, who is stepping down after nearly three years. Mahendra-Rajah will continue to support Uber as a senior finance advisor for a few months to ensure a smooth handover.

Krishnamurthy is not new to Uber. He has spent more than six years at the company and was most recently Vice President for Strategic Finance and Investor Relations. In this role, he worked closely with Uber’s leadership on financial planning, long-term strategy, capital allocation, and communication with global investors. His appointment reflects Uber’s preference for continuity and internal leadership as it navigates an evolving business environment.

Before joining Uber in 2019, Krishnamurthy built a strong foundation in finance and research. He spent over eight years at Goldman Sachs, where he served as Vice President in equity research, covering technology and internet companies. Earlier in his career, he also worked with Indian firms such as Info Edge India, iTrust Financial Advisors, and Irevna, gaining exposure to both Indian and global markets.

Academically, Krishnamurthy has an impressive background. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Manipal Institute of Technology and an MBA from the Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurugram. He also participated in an exchange programme at Copenhagen Business School and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). In 2025, he further strengthened his leadership credentials by completing the CFO Leadership Program at Harvard Business School.

His elevation comes at a crucial time for Uber. The company has reported strong growth in trips and gross bookings, even as it balances profitability goals with investments in future technologies such as electric mobility, autonomous vehicles, and platform expansion.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has expressed confidence in Krishnamurthy’s ability to guide the company’s financial strategy, citing his deep understanding of Uber’s business and culture.

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Jeff D’Onofrio steps in as Washington Post Chief

The Washington Post is navigating one of the most difficult phases in its recent history, marked by deep job cuts and a sudden change at the top. Jeff D’Onofrio has been appointed acting publisher and chief executive after Will Lewis stepped down, just days after the newspaper announced mass layoffs that affected more than 300 employees.

Lewis, who took charge in early 2024 after being appointed by owner Jeff Bezos, was brought in to stabilise the Post’s finances at a time when advertising revenues were falling and digital subscriptions were under pressure. He argued that the restructuring was essential to ensure the paper’s long-term survival in a rapidly changing media landscape.

However, the layoffs,  estimated to impact nearly a third of the newsroom, sparked shock, anger, and fear among staff. Several well-known desks and teams were cut or sharply reduced, raising concerns about how the paper would maintain its journalistic depth and global coverage. Tensions escalated further when Lewis did not attend the internal meeting where the layoffs were announced, a move many employees viewed as distancing himself from the human cost of the decision.

In a message to staff announcing his departure, Lewis said it was the “right time to step aside” and defended the cuts as painful but necessary. His resignation was widely seen as a response to mounting internal backlash and public criticism over both the scale of the layoffs and how they were handled.

Stepping into the role on an interim basis, Jeff D’Onofrio, previously the Post’s chief financial officer, now faces the challenge of restoring confidence while keeping the organisation financially stable. D’Onofrio brings a strong business and digital background, with earlier roles at companies such as Google, Yahoo News, and Tumblr. In his first communication to staff, he acknowledged the distress caused by the layoffs and said rebuilding trust would be a priority.

Jeff Bezos thanked Lewis for his service and expressed confidence in D’Onofrio’s leadership. Yet, inside the newsroom, uncertainty remains high. Journalists and staff representatives are urging the management to protect editorial independence and invest in quality reporting, even as financial pressures persist.

The leadership transition showcases the broader struggle of legacy media organisations worldwide, as they try to balance economic survival with the core mission of journalism. For the Washington Post, the coming months under Jeff D’Onofrio’s interim leadership will be critical in shaping what the paper becomes next.

Also Read: India-US interim trade deal cheers stock markets

 

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Tablesh Pandey to lead NSE IPO committee plan

The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) has taken a major step toward going public, as its board approved plans for an initial public offering (IPO) and formed a special IPO committee to oversee the process.

The IPO will be conducted via an offer-for-sale (OFS) route, in which existing shareholders sell their stake rather than the exchange issuing new shares. This approach helps determine NSE’s market valuation while retaining its overall ownership structure.

Former LIC Managing Director Tablesh Pandey has been appointed chairman of the IPO committee, bringing decades of experience in financial management, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance. Pandey is widely respected for his leadership at LIC, India’s largest insurance company, where he successfully steered growth, improved operational efficiency, and strengthened investor trust.

The IPO committee will include NSE’s Managing Director & CEO and public interest directors, ensuring strategic oversight of key steps such as finalizing the issue size, appointing merchant bankers, and preparing the Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP).

A significant milestone for the exchange was the no-objection certificate (NOC) from SEBI, which clears a major regulatory hurdle for the listing. NSE aims to file the DRHP by end of March or early April, subject to audited financial statements and regulatory approvals.

The IPO is expected to unlock shareholder value and increase participation in India’s premier stock exchange. Analysts believe that with Pandey leading the committee, the process will benefit from strong governance, credibility, and smooth execution.

Pandey’s appointment is seen as a signal of the NSE’s commitment to transparency and regulatory compliance, given his proven track record in managing large public-sector financial institutions. Experts expect the IPO to be closely watched by both retail and institutional investors in India.

With the IPO committee now in place under Pandey’s guidance, NSE is on track to achieve a long-awaited listing, marking a major development in India’s capital markets.

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Tim Cook talks succession, denies retirement plans

Apple CEO Tim Cook has addressed speculation about his retirement and the company’s leadership future at a rare all-hands meeting, reassuring staff that succession planning is ongoing but he is not stepping down anytime soon.

Cook, who turned 65 in 2025, noted that planning for future leadership is a key responsibility for any large organization. While thinking about who will lead Apple in the coming years is important, he emphasized that his focus remains on current operations.

The meeting also highlighted recent departures of senior executives, including Lisa Jackson, Jeff Williams, and Katherine Adams. Cook described these as planned transitions, stressing that Apple’s leadership bench remains strong and capable.

Industry observers point to John Ternus, senior VP of hardware engineering, as a likely future CEO, noting his increased responsibilities and visibility within the company.

Cook’s comments come amid tech industry speculation about a near-term retirement, but he reinforced that Apple is focused on long-term strategy and stability, not abrupt leadership changes. The all-hands also touched on Apple’s upcoming 50th anniversary, signaling reflection on the company’s legacy alongside succession planning.

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India’s data centres seen as job engine, says Nvidia CEO

India is emerging as a global hotspot for artificial intelligence (AI) and digital infrastructure, drawing recognition and investment from international leaders. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres praised India for its leadership in AI, noting the country’s role in shaping global AI discussions and promoting inclusive governance.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang predicted that India’s AI and data-centre expansion could create a surge in employment, reminiscent of the internet boom. According to Huang, constructing data centres will generate jobs for electricians, plumbers, architects, and project managers. Beyond that, a wide range of indirect roles in operations, supply chains, and startups could also emerge.

The Indian government is supporting this growth with strategic incentives. The 2026 Budget extended tax holidays for foreign companies setting up data centres in India through 2047, aiming to attract massive investment in cloud computing and AI services. Experts in the industry estimate that this could bring in billions of dollars, further strengthening India’s position in the global tech ecosystem.

India is also hosting the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, bringing together global leaders, ministers, technology executives, and academics. The summit will focus on AI governance, capacity building, and international collaboration, including platforms like the Global Digital Compact.

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