Salil Parekh and Arvind Krishna join USISPF Board

Infosys and IBM CEOs Salil Parekh and Arvind Krishna, have joined the Board of Directors of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), an independent institution dedicated to strengthening the partnership between the two nations.

Parekh, CEO and Managing Director of Indian multinational information technology company Infosys, brings a wealth of experience from his time in the IT services industry, where he has been involved in business turnarounds and acquisitions, according to a media release.

“I am delighted and honored to be inducted into the board of USISPF. India and the US have bilateral ties that have deepened significantly over the years,” he said on his induction into the board.

“I wish USISPF continued success in building stronger collaboration between both nations that will help scale the future of our economies, industries, and trade,” added Parekh.

Mukesh Aghi, President and CEO of USISPF, sees Parekh’s appointment as a reflection of the success of Indian IT companies in the US.

He stated, “Salil’s recent addition to the USISPF Board accentuates the success story of Indian IT giants in the US. In an era of digital economy and digital trade, Infosys’ success in the US is a testimony to the growing synergy in tech ties and how India’s robust tech talent plays an integral part in strengthening and growing the tech sector in the United States.”

READ: USISPF adds three new board members (August 24, 2018)

Welcoming Parekh’s appointment, John Chambers, Chairman of USISPF, said, “I’m thrilled to have Salil, a leader with a great track record in the IT industry, join the USISPF Board. Infosys’ impact in the American tech industry has been extremely important, and the company played a vital part in India’s nearly $200 billion software exports for 2023… I look forward to seeing Salil’s leadership in driving digital transformation further support the exciting next chapter of the US-India story.”

IBM CEO Krishna, 62, who joined the USISPF board last week, is also a member of the Board of Directors of the New York Federal Reserve Bank and serves on the Board of Directors of Northrop Grumman.

“His knowledge about technology is unmatched, and his track record for leading market transitions in areas like hybrid cloud business, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence is remarkable,” said Chambers describing Krishna as “a true visionary and a leader who is always focused on what’s good for society at large.”

Shantanu Narayen, Chair and CEO of Adobe and vice chairman of USISPF, said Krishna’s strong leadership and deep technical expertise in AI, cloud, quantum computing, and global operations will be invaluable as India continues to be an incubator for the transformative power of technology.

“When you think of the various diaspora success stories and the rise of the Indian-American CEO across Fortune 100 companies, you think of Arvind Krishna at IBM. At a time when the US and India are working to secure a deeper collaboration in the field of critical and emerging technologies, Arvind’s deep expertise in this sector will be an invaluable asset,” said Aghi.

“For years, Arvind has successfully built strong commercial links between the US and India. During the pandemic, Arvind’s indefatigable efforts helped USISPF supply essential materials in oxygen cylinders and cand concentrators to help aid the several million COVID-19 victims in India,” he said.

An industry and IBM veteran spanning over three decades with the tech giant, Krishna has led the building and expansion of new markets for IBM in artificial intelligence, cloud, quantum computing, and blockchain.

Krishna has also been a driving force in the development of innovative IBM products and solutions and led a series of bold transformations that have delivered proven business results, including growing IBM’s Information Management business by 50 per cent.

“The US and India share a unique bond, rooted in shared democratic values and strong economic and cultural ties. As a member of the USISPF, I look forward to finding ways for our two nations to use the power of technology to drive economic growth, create opportunities for all, and address the unique challenges of our time,” Krishna said.

In 2016, Wired Magazine selected Krishna as “one of 25 geniuses who are creating the future of business” for his foundational work on blockchain. Krishna has made significant scientific contributions in several technical fields, including wireless networking, security, systems, and databases, and has founded IBM’s security software business and helped create the world’s first commercial wireless system, USISPF said.