Group: TRUSTED BOARD MEMBERS

Deepak Sood as the is the Secretary General of ASSOCHAM has been responsible for strengthening the Chamber’s share of voice with the Government by deepening stakeholder engagement. He has led the Chamber’s transformation strategy to increase state-level presence, enhance stakeholder reach through Government connects and membership expansion. He has focused on strengthening the industry-government partnership for India’s journey to be amongst the developed nations of the world. Under his leadership, the Chamber has been proactively providing policy inputs and facilitating policy implementation of different flagship programmes like the PLI, Make in India, Skill India and Digital India.

In last 30 years, Deepak has worked for the industry and government – in India and abroad, gaining and sharing valuable experience across sectors and geographies. He has worked for Foseco, (Burmah Castrol Company), Larsen and Toubro (L&T), Total Fina Elf, ABB and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

In addition, he has closely worked with Ministries, both at the Centre and in States and has sound understanding of India’s governance and industrial ecosystem. He led the Global Business Fairs Division, National Committees on – FMCG, Branding, Marketing, and Knowledge Management. He has worked extensively in the areas of Power Generation and Automation, Preventive Maintenance, Asset Management, Farm Mechanisation, Sugar Manufacturing, Mining and Capital Goods to name a few.

Deepak feels, the key to his success has been the hands-on Industrial experience during his early years. He continues to keep connect with the technical side and also keeps up with latest developments in most sectors. He has been involved, since inception, with the core team of “Make in India” and actively participated at all meetings helping promote India opportunity, including organising some of the largest business meets of the Country in India and abroad. He has worked with multiple Ministries and Department, globally, especially Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI), Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, Ministry of Railways and Department of Industrial Policy and promotion (DIPP) among others.

More recently, he was deputed to Government of Karnataka, as the CEO of Invest Karnataka Forum (IKF) set up by the State, as a Section 8 Company, to promote the State, across sectors for inward investments. He very actively led the global campaign chaired by the State Industry Minister. IKF also provided advisory services to Industries Department, Karnataka to improve its score on the Ease of Doing Business Index (EoDB) and closed on some very major investments.

He was nominated for the State Level Single Window Project Clearance Committee (SLSWCC) for land allocation and projects up to 500 crores investments, chaired by the Industry Minister. He was also part of the State High Level Clearance Committee (SHLCC) for large projects chaired by the Chief Minister. He has been a speaker at multiple seminars, conferences and training programs and a mentor to young students and early stage Start-ups. Sustainable living and giving back to society are important aspects of his life. Deepak takes this work very seriously.

Pramod Bhasin is the chairman of ICRIER (Indian Council For Research On International Economic Relations).

He is an Operating Partner at Kedaara Capital, an India-focused private equity firm. Pramod’s career spans a professional and entrepreneurial journey in Financial Services and Business Process Management across the globe.

He founded Genpact, a global leading company in Business Process Management, in 1997 and was its President & CEO till June 2011. Under his leadership, Genpact pioneered in the BPO industry in many countries including India and China; its market capitalization grew from US $500 million in 2005 to over US $3.5 billion when he retired. Genpact is acknowledged today as the leader in its industry with over 75,000 employees across 17 countries and over US $2 billion in revenues.

Prior to Genpact, his career with GE Capital spanned 25 years across the US, UK and Asia. He was earlier the CEO of GE Capital in India & Asia and prior to that worked with GE Capital in Stamford, CT in the Leveraged Buy Out group.

In September 2016, Pramod along with partners acquired the businesses of GE Capital – India, now known as Clix Capital. He is the Chairman of Clix Capital, which is a broad based NBFC, focused on providing digital platforms and financial services to commercial companies and consumers across India.

Pramod is the co-founder of Asha Impact, a Virtual Fund focused on Social Impact Investments and Advocacy. He is an active investor in different companies, from start-ups to ongoing businesses. He has also co-founded the Skills Academy that focuses on providing vocational skills training to lower income youth in villages across the country. The Skills Academy has trained over 50,000 students and placed majority of them in jobs, post training.

Pramod serves on the Boards of DLF Ltd as well as Help Age. India He has been the Chairman of Nasscom and noted “IT Man of the Year” by Dataquest in 2010.

He is currently the Chairman of the Punjab Innovation Mission a public private partnership to build the entrepreneurship and start up eco system in Punjab

Pramod is a Chartered Accountant from Thomas McLintock & Co., London, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Delhi University.

Prior to joining Bharat Web3 Association as its Chairman, Dilip served the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) as its Secretary General. Before joining FICCI, Dilip served as Managing Director & CEO of the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). NSDC fosters private sector investment and initiatives in training and skill development.

Dilip has also worked in several key industry organizations, including SIAM as its Director General. He was a member of the Harvard Business School project under Professor Michael Porter that worked on the competitiveness of Indian industry. With varied experiences of working in the private sector, he advices start-ups including organisations in the digital, education, skills and livelihood space. Dilip has also served as Chairman of an Engineering Institute.

A fellow of the World Academy of Productivity Science (WAPS), he was awarded the Indian Achievers Award in 2018, The Game Changer Award in 2015 and the Rashtriya Media Ratan Award in 2013.

Bijou Kurien, Chairman, Retailers association of India

Bijou Kurien is a renowned retail industry leader, serving as Chairman of the Retailers Association of India (RAI) and Independent Director on the Boards of esteemed companies, including LTIMindtree Limited, Brigade Enterprises Ltd, IIFL Finance Ltd., Renaissance Global Ltd., Suguna Foods, ZenPlus Mgmt, and Lighthouse Learning Pvt Ltd.

With over 40 years of experience in building brands, businesses, and organizations, Bijou has worked with premier companies in India’s fast-moving consumer products, consumer durables, and retail sectors. His impressive career spans leadership roles at Hindustan Unilever Ltd., Titan Industries, and Reliance Retail, where he transformed the Indian retail landscape.

At Titan Industries, Bijou helped create powerful brands like Titan, Fastrack, Sonata, and Tanishq, and established India’s largest exclusive brand retail chains. As a key player in Reliance Retail’s ambitious venture, he revolutionized the retail industry.

Bijou also served on the Strategic Advisory Board of L Capital, Asia (LVMH Group). His expertise extends to portfolio investments for leading consumer and retail-focused private equity players. Currently, Bijou advises consumer product companies and mentors startups. Bijou’s contributions to RAI have been significant, earning him prestigious recognitions, including Retail CEO of the Year (2013) by ET Now and Asia Pacific Retail Leader of the Year (2012) by the World Retail Congress.

A distinguished alumnus of XLRI Jamshedpur, Bijou holds a PG Diploma in Business Management. He also serves on the Advisory Board of the World Retail Congress and mentors the FICCI Retail Committee, solidifying his position as a thought leader in India’s retail industry.

Amitabh Taneja, Chairman & Managing Director and editor-in-chief, Images Group, has been working for over two decades now to modernize and expand the Indian retail market and build informed consumerism in India. He is also the founding director of the Shopping Centres Association of India and the Fashion Alliance India. He is the chief convenor of The India Retail Forum, India Fashion Forum, Food & Grocery, and Food Service Forum India. He is also on the board of several business & trade promotion organizations and had been instrumental in setting up operations for the International Council of Shopping Centres in India as its India Director in 2004. Headquartered in New Delhi, with offices across Indian metro’s and the Middle East, the Images Group is recognised by the international retail community and trusted as a lead catalyst for profitable growth of modern retail through knowledge platform leadership.

 

 

Venkataraman, a post graduate diploma holder in Management from IIM-Ahmedabad, joined Titan Company Limited in 1990, and worked in the Advertising and Marketing functions before becoming the Head of Sales & Marketing for the Titan brand in 2003.

Thereafter he took charge of the Jewellery Division in 2005 and last held the position of Chief Executive Officer, Jewellery till September 30, 2019. Subsequently, he assumed office as Managing Director of the Company from October 1, 2019.

 

Amit Agarwal is the Global Senior Vice President and Country Head of Amazon India, leading the company’s expansion in the country. He joined Amazon in 1999 as a software developer and rose through the ranks, holding various leadership positions including Managing Director of Amazon’s development center in Bangalore, Global Technical Advisor to Jeff Bezos, and Vice President of International Expansion.

Agarwal played a pivotal role in launching Amazon’s retail presence in Italy, Spain, and India, including the launch of Amazon.in in 2013 and (link unavailable) in 2012. Under his leadership, Amazon has grown exponentially in India, surpassing internal milestones and transforming the online business trend.

Amit Agarwal holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from IIT Kanpur (1995) and a Master’s degree in Computer Science from Stanford University (1997). Before joining Amazon, he worked briefly at Cambridge Technology Partners and Informatica in Silicon Valley.

Agarwal’s exceptional leadership and customer-centric approach have earned him recognition, including the prestigious IITK Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2018. Despite initially wanting to be a teacher, Agarwal’s passion for mountain climbing and running drives his professional approach, exemplified by his quote, “I am a runner. When you run (a marathon), you don’t check after 10m and see if you’re ahead.”

As a key member of Amazon’s Senior Leadership Team (S-Team), Agarwal continues to spearhead the company’s operations in India, focusing on bringing global innovations to the country. His remarkable journey and achievements make him a renowned figure in the e-commerce industry.

Mr. B.S. Nagesh has been a role model to the Indian retail industry and has served the industry for over 30 years.

In the year 2011, he has set up a Public Charitable Trust called TRRAIN (TRUST FOR RETAILERS AND RETAIL ASSOCIATES OF INDIA) and a Section 25 company called TRRAIN FOUNDATION with the objectives of developing skills of abled and disabled people in retail, create pride and respect for retailers and retail associates and provide healthcare and social security solutions. More information: www.trrain.org

Mr. Nagesh is also the Vice Chairman and Non–Executive Director of Shoppers Stop Limited. He has been with Shoppers Stop Ltd since its inception in 1991 and continues to be a strategic advisor to the management. Mr. Nagesh was also instrumental in acquiring of the Crossword chain of bookstores in the year 2000, and setting up and opening the country’s largest hypermarket HyperCity (launched in May 2006). HyperCity has been declared as one of the top 100 retail destinations in the world by Retail Week, UK and the best hypermarket at the United States International Design Awards in New York.

As part of his personal philosophy of Learn, Earn & Return, Nagesh stepped down from all operational roles in the K. Raheja Corp Group in August 2009 at the age of 50.

Amongst his numerous achievements, Mr. Nagesh is the first Asian to be inducted into the “World Retail Hall of Fame” 2008 along with Mr. Millard Drexler of J Crew, Sir Philip Green of BHS and Arcadia and Mr. Amancio Ortega of Inditex at the World Retail Congress 2008 conducted in Barcelona. The four iconic retailers have been selected by retail industry leaders and experts from across the Globe in recognition of their supreme industry achievements. Shoppers Stop Ltd also won the ‘Emerging Market Retailer of the Year’ Award at the World Retail Congress 2008.

Mr. Nagesh has also been inducted into the Indian Retail Hall of Fame in the year 2012 at India Retail Forum (IRF). He was voted by Business India as one of the top 50 managers in India who will influence the Indian business scenario in the 21st century. Ernst & Young nominated him for the Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2005 as one of the top 30 finalists. CMAI recognised him as ‘The Retail Professional of The year’ for four consecutive years. Mr. Nagesh was also felicitated with ‘The Best Professional of the Year’ award at ICICI Bank, in 2005.

Before joining the K. Raheja Corp group in 1991 for Shoppers Stop Limited, Mr. Nagesh worked with Carona Ltd. (1988-1991) as its zonal manager retail for South & East controlling the operations of 128 stores in these two regions. He started his career as a Sales Officer in the Delhi branch of Blow Plast Ltd in 1982, Nagesh left Blow Plast in 1986 when he was the Area Manager for Vijaywada branch to Join Orson Electronics as the Branch Manager for Delhi, Haryana. (1986-1988).

 

 

Chandrajit Banerjee is the Director General of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), India’s apex industry organization, promoting Indian industry’s competitiveness. With over 35 years at CII, he has been instrumental in shaping India’s economic growth and development. Banerjee took on the role of Director General in 2008, overseeing the overall operations of CII and leading its policy initiatives.

Banerjee’s expertise spans various sectors, including manufacturing, services, agriculture, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). He has held key leadership positions within CII, driving policy work on macroeconomic policy, financial services, and corporate governance. His contributions have significantly enhanced the competitiveness of Indian industry.

Banerjee’s influence extends beyond CII, with memberships and directorships in esteemed institutions. He serves on the boards of the Institute of Economic Growth, Global Innovation and Technology Alliance, Indian Institute of Management Ranchi, and Invest India, among others. Additionally, he is Secretary for several bilateral CEO forums constituted by the Government of India, fostering international cooperation with countries like Australia, France, Japan, and Sweden.

A post-graduate in Economics from the University of Calcutta, Banerjee has received honorary doctorates from Amity University and Xavier Institute of Management. His international recognition includes the China-India Friendship Award, Knight Commander of the Order of Queen Isabella, and Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia for promoting bilateral relations between India and China, Spain, and Italy, respectively.

Through his work, Banerjee has established himself as a key figure in India’s economic landscape, fostering collaboration between industry, government, and international partners. As Director General of CII, he continues to drive India’s growth and development, leveraging his expertise to create a conducive environment for Indian industry to thrive.

Dr. Rajiv Kumar, a leading Indian economist, is the Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog by the government of India. He is the author of several books on India’s economy and national security and one of the country’s leading columnist. His latest book ‘Exploding Aspirations: Unlocking India’s Future’ (2104) is a collection of his columns.

He is also the Founding Director of Pahle India Foundation, a non-profit research organization that specializes in policy research and analysis.

In past he has served as Senior Fellow at the Center For Policy Research, (Delhi) and Chancellor of the Gokhale Institute of Economics and Politics (A Deemed University, Pune).

He was Secretary General of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI, 2010-2012); Director & Chief Executive of the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER, 2006-2010); and Chief Economist of the Confederation of India Industries (CII, 2004-2006.) He worked in the Asian Development Bank, Manila from 1995 to 2005. He joined the Government of India initially in the Ministry of Industries, Bureau of Costs and Prices (1989-1991) and then worked as Economic Advisor in the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance (1992 to 1995). He was a professor at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi (1987-89) and research program officer at ICRIER from 1982 to 1987.

He presently serves on the Board of Management of several prestigious international and national institutions including, King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center, Riyadh; Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and Asia (ERIA) Jakarta; Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi; and Institute of Human Development, Delhi. He was a member of Government of India’s National Security Advisory Board for 2006-2008 and a former member (2009-15) of the Central Board of the State Bank of India. He has a D.Phil. in Economics from Oxford University and a Ph. D from Lucknow University.