NEW DELHI, 23 DECEMBER, 2019 (GPN): Dr Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group, has taken over as FICCI President from Mr Sandip Somany, Vice Chairman and Managing Director 8 HSIL Limited, at the apex chamber’s 92nd Annual Convention in New Delhi.

Mr Uday Shankar, President, The Walt Disney Company APAC & Chairman, Star & Disney India, has been elevated as Senior Vice President of FICCI, and Mr Sanjiv Mehta, Chairman and Managing Director of HUL, has joined FICCI leadership as Vice President.

Dr Sangita Reddy, a Global Healthcare Influencer, Healthcare Technocrat, a keen watcher of Indian and global economy with deep insights on the new-age businesses, and above all a Social Entrepreneur and Humanitarian, will be FICCI President for 2019-20.

In her message as the incoming President of FICCI, Dr Sangita Reddy said, “I look forward to an incredible year for FICCI and also for the country. At our just finished 92nd AGM, we have laid out a roadmap towards a $5 Trillion economy for India. While we discussed and deliberated on various issues, the most important takeaway is that everybody is moving ahead with a sense of commitment on how to make it happen.”

“That is what FICCI stands for — to be a definitive voice for the industry to assist in the growth and development of the country — and to do so in a manner that emboldens India and brings stature globally. I personally believe that service to FICCI is a service to the country. We look forward to greater inputs from the government, greater involvement from the industry and partnership with other institutions, including other chambers and also our own, FLO,” She added.

“We will work together, we will innovate and we will find new ways. We will focus on science, innovation and entrepreneurship and bring in a new sense of energy, purpose and determination towards this tremendous goal of achieving $5 Trillion economy. We will make sure that every Indian is touched by this vision as we create a New India which is inclusive and prosperous,” said Dr Reddy.

Dr Sangita Reddy has been conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by Macquarie University Australia, in recognition of her untiring efforts and resolute commitment to bringing transformative changes in healthcare, development of Health IT and championing manifold initiatives both in India and abroad. She is an Honorary Consul of Brazil in Hyderabad, appointed by the Govt. of India.

She was a member of The World Economic Forum digital committee and was also an elected Member of the Steering Committee on Health for the Twelfth Five Year Plan (2012-2017) by the Planning Commission, Government of India. Dr. Sangita Reddy has also been nominated by the Government of India as a Member of the Technology Development Board, Department of Science and Technology. She was an Executive Member of National Association of Software & Services Cos (NASSCOM) and was on the Board for Development Institute, USA and GAVI.Org.

Senior Vice President, FICCI:

Mr UDAY SHANKAR, President, The Walt Disney Company APAC Chairman, Star & Disney India. As president, The Walt Disney Company APAC and Chairman, Star & Disney India, Mr Uday Shankar leads the charge for Disney’s transformation into a direct-to-consumer company in the most exciting region of the world.

Prior to this, Mr Shankar was president of 21st Century Fox for Asia and the chairman & CEO of Star India.

In addition to his leadership of Star, Mr Shankar has played a key role in shaping the media and entertainment sector in India, bringing reforms for the industry and its consumers. He has been at the forefront of landmark initiatives in television broadcasting including self-regulation and digitization of the television distribution ecosystem.

A trained journalist, Mr Shankar also pioneered the development of the TV news ecosystem in India. Prior to Star India, he was the CEO and editor of Star News, which was the first 24-hour news channel in India. He was also the editor and news director at TV Today Group, where he spearheaded the launch of Aaj Tak, a leading Hindi news channel, in 2000 and Headlines Today, a leading English news channel, in 2003.

Mr Shankar holds an M. Phil in Economic History from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi.

Vice President, FICCI:

Mr SANJIV MEHTA, Chairman and Managing Director, HUL: Mr Sanjiv Mehta is the Chairman and Managing Director of HUL since 30th June 2018. He has been leading Unilever’s business in India and South Asia since October 2013 as CEO and Managing Director, HUL and Executive Vice President, Unilever, South Asia. He was appointed as President, Unilever, South Asia and member of the Unilever Leadership Executive, effective May 2019.

Mr Sanjiv Mehta chairs the FMCG Committee of FICCI. He co-chairs the Advisory Network to the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy. Mr Sanjiv Mehta is a member of the India Advisory Board of Harvard Business School and is a Director on the Board of the Indian School of Business. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Breach Candy Hospital Trust, Mumbai.

Mr Sanjiv Mehta is a Chartered Accountant from The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. He has also completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. ENDS