MELBOURNE (TIP): The City of Parramatta Council in Sydney on Monday, May 22, elected Indian-origin Councilor Sameer Pandey as its new Lord Mayor. Pandey’s election to the post coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival in Sydney on Monday for a two-day visit at the invitation of his Australian counterpart. Pandey was first elected to the council in 2017 and in 2022, became the City’s first Deputy Lord Mayor from the Indian subcontinent, an official statement said.
Pandey was elected as Donna Davis stepped down from the role following her election as the State Member for Parramatta in Australia’s New South Wales state.
Asserting that it was a privilege to lead the council of one of the fastest-growing centers in Australia, Pandey said, “The City of Parramatta is the geographical heart of Greater Sydney and a major economic powerhouse as well as the best place in Sydney to live.” “Parramatta is home to a vibrant and diverse community, and I’m excited to lead the City as it cements itself as Sydney’s second CBD (central business district) and the focus of some of its most exciting opportunities,” he was quoted as saying in the press release. A small business owner with a background in IT, Pandey “is passionate about ensuring the council delivers what community and local businesses need and positioning the City of Parramatta as a smart city,” the press release said.
Tag: NRI
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First Indian-origin Lord Mayor, Councilor Sameer Pandey elected in Australia’s Parramatta City Council
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15 Punjabi-origin in fray for Alberta provincial elections in Canada
TORONTO (TIP): As many as 15 candidates of Punjab origin are in the fray for the Alberta provincial elections in Canada for which the polling is scheduled to be held on May 29 for all 87 constituencies.
The two major political outfits — National Democratic Party (NDP) and United Conservative Party of Alberta (UCP) — are not only banking heavily on South Asians and Punjabis in particular, they have also given “adequate representation” to their communities by fielding them. Punjabis are mostly contesting in Calgary and Edmonton area seats. The major Punjabi candidates who are contesting the polls are Rajan Sawhney (Cabinet Minister for Trade, Immigration and Multiculturism), contesting from Calgary North-West on a UCP ticket, MLA Devinder Toor, seeking re-election on a UCP ticket from Calgary-Falconridge and MLA Jasvir Deol, contesting from Edmonton Meadows on an NDP ticket. In 2019, Sawhney had won from Calgary North-East riding and earlier this year, she had announced that she wouldn’t seek re-election from here, but after the UCP Environment Minister and sitting Calgary Northwest candidate Sonya Savage announced retirement from politics, UCP announced Sawhney as a candidate.
Sawhney has degrees in economics and political science from the University of Calgary, besides an MBA. Prior to her political stint, she worked in the oil and gas industry for over 20 years. Rajan Sawhney said, “I will work hard every day to see Calgary North-West move forward with growth, prosperity & a more affordable Alberta because we can’t afford to go back to decline, high taxes & the failed policies of the NDP.”
The UCP has also fielded Amanpreet Singh Gill from Calgary-Bhullar-Mccall, Inder Grewal from Calgary North-East, R Singh Bath from Edmonton Ellerslie, Amritpal Singh Matharu from Edmonton Meadows and Raman Athwal from Edmonton Mill Woods. Other Punjabi candidates fielded by the NDP are Gurinder Singh Gill from Calgary-Cross, Parmeet Singh Boparai from Calgary-Falconridge, Gurinder Brar from Calgary North-East, Harry Singh from Drayton Valley-Devon. Aman Sandhu is contesting on a Green Party of Alberta (GPA) ticket from Calgary-Cross, Jeewan Mangat on Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta (WIPA) from Innisfail-Sylvan Lake and Braham Luddu on Alberta Party (AP) from Lethbridge-West. -
British Sikh entrepreneur Navjot Sawhney among winners of UK’s Icon Awards
LONDON (TIP): British Sikh entrepreneur Navjot Sawhney, founder of the Washing Machine Project providing low-income communities with accessible and sustainable washing solutions, is among 14 winners of the annual 21st Century Icon Awards in London. Sawhney won the Sustainability Rising Star Award for the Washing Machine Project and received the trophy at a ceremony on Friday from Ibukun Adebayo, Group Director, Sustainable Finance and Investment Strategy, London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG).
His eco-friendly hand-cranked Washing Machine Project benefits families without access to an electric machine in underdeveloped countries and refugee camps.
“Since its creation in 2021, they have positively impacted the lives of over 30,000 people,” read the citation for the project, which has won several awards, including the British Prime Minister’s Points of Light award in the past.
CA Bhavani Devi, the first Indian woman fencer to qualify and compete at the Olympic Games, was awarded the Competitive Sports Award, and Indian-origin entrepreneurs Ashok Duppati and Dheeraj Siripurapu bagged the Relentlessly Resolute Award for their efforts behind several market beating businesses over the last 20 years.
“We are absolutely delighted to celebrate and recognize these outstanding global icons,” said Tarun Ghulati and Preeti Rana of Squared Watermelon Limited, co-founders of the awards, now in their seventh year.
“We created these awards to showcase the young leaders who, through their tenacity, grit and hard work, have become the beacons of change, inspiring others and are on the front seat of innovation,” they said.
Around 200 business leaders, celebrities, and sports and community champions gathered for the awards ceremony last week, for which the 14 winners were whittled down from 45 finalists and around 600 submissions from around the world. The judging panel was made up of a diverse range of experts, including former Lord Mayor of London Vincent Keaveny and peers from the House of Lords.
Among other winners on the evening included the Specialist Professional Award for tech firm Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar S and the Savvy Luxury Award for Dr Tara Lalvani, founder of beauty brand Beautifect.
The 21st Century Icon Awards were launched in 2017 by Squared Watermelon Ltd as a means to celebrate success and draw attention to the work of exceptional entrepreneurs, philanthropists, tech professionals, and sports and media personalities on a global stage. -
Indian media in America faces challenges and opportunities
Publishers and editors reveal how they have been coping and the business strategies they have adopted.
By Parveen Chopra
Founder, ALotusInTheMud.com
Founding Editor, The South Asian TimesIn 2020, India Abroad, known as the gold standard in ethnic newspapers in America, closed operations after 50 years in circulation. In 2022 New India Abroad was started by a different team.
That tells you the story of Indian media in America. Down and up. Resilience and renewal. Learning and adapting.
The downturn for all journalism – not just Indian ethnic media – has been caused by the ever-growing digital revolution. The 2008 economic meltdown was bad for the media too. Covid years were worse. Now, social media is the new villain in the journalism story. Many storied newspapers in the US have closed or curtailed operations.
Indian ethnic media has been more vulnerable because of a lack of promoters with deep pockets for sustaining operations and a dearth of committed journalists doing quality work to keep readers engaged. Surprisingly, the big media houses from India have not ventured here.
The need for quality journalism to serve the Indian community is greater than ever. For one, the community is growing – their numbers increased from about 3 million in 2010 to more than 4.5 million as per the 2020 census. Indian Americans make headlines as achievers in the US media and are referred to as a model minority.
But being new immigrants, the community cannot let its guard down. Knowledge is power. It is the job of community media to bring to the notice of their readers issues that need collective action. And, becoming their voice, take their issues to officials and lawmakers concerned. For example, they need to keep hammering the US Congress to resolve the monstrous green card backlog for Indians.
A new, combustible case is Washington state passing a law (now under consideration in California) banning discrimination based on caste, a practice allegedly extended here from India. Some Hindu groups condemned the move as anti-Indian. The community papers should be explaining the implications of the bill and build a consensus – for or against.
Surely, all regions of the US with large Indian populations have community newspapers. But most of them have mainly ended up as aggregators compiling news and features available freely. In contrast, New York-based India Abroad once spawned editions in other diaspora countries and a news agency.
India Abroad, under publisher Gopal Raju, even made press freedom history. They published a story linking megastar Amitabh Bachchan’s brother, Ajitabh Bachchan, to kickbacks in a defense deal. Ajitabh sued in London and won 40,000-pound damages in 1990. Raju fought the enforcement at home. US legacy media including The New York Times filed briefs in Raju’s support. Raju won.
Unfortunately, declining ad revenue while honor-bound to keep printing copies to serve its 20,000+ paid subscribers made the paper a hot potato eventually.
One contemporary of India Abroad was India West, a paper with big circulation on the West Coast. Its aging owners, Bina and Ramesh Murarka, shut it down when Covid struck.
Today, a new opportunity has arisen for the Indian media. With the greater visibility of South Asians in many spheres of American life, it is time to tell their story to the mainstream. But to achieve that you need some gumption and broader vision. Indian Americans are well-educated and high earners. Rightly leveraged, this market can support a vibrant media.
So, what is blocking that from happening, and what is the way forward? Publishers and editors responded to reveal how they have been coping and the business strategies they have adopted.Business models in the mix
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Indo-Canadian candidates in race for Toronto’s Mayoral elections
TORONTO (TIP): A handful of Indo-Canadians are among 102 candidates in fray for the Toronto mayoral election to be held for the remaining city council term of 2022-2026 following Mayor John Tory’s resignation early this year. The candidates for the June 26 by-election were certified by Toronto City Clerk John D. Elvidge.
Born to Indo-Guyanese and Afro-Bermudian parents, Knia Singh has run for political office municipally, provincially and federally, most notably running for Mayor in the 2018 and 2022 Municipal elections.
Singh received the community service award from the Jamaican Canadian Association in 2016 and was named the Toronto Star person to watch for 2014.
He co-founded the Osgoode Society Against Institutional Injustice, which was instrumental in challenging carding and arbitrary detention across police services in Ontario.
“I seek to be the representative of our city as someone who has lived through various stages of life experience, and who can relate and identify with the needs of all people, from those trying to find their next meal, to those looking to invest in an economic venture,” Singh said in his campaign statement.
Sandeep Srivastava, who came to Toronto from India as a teenager, ran unsuccessfully in the last municipal election. As a Mayor, Srivastava says he hopes to build a more sustainable and cost-efficient community.
“I want to build Toronto Smart City based on my local municipal experience, knowledge, skills, and strengths. I put forward a plan to make sure that we’re bringing Business and Technology jobs back to Toronto by rewarding companies and small businesses,” he said in his campaign statement.
Habiba Desai and Partap Singh Dua are among other candidates who have thrown their hats in the ring.
Desai most recently ran in the 2022 municipal election in Scarborough-Guildwood for a Councilor position and gained over 1000 votes. With 102, a record-high number of candidates have ever registered for Mayor of the amalgamated City of Toronto, surpassing the previous record of 65 candidates in the 2014 municipal election, a release by City of Toronto stated.
There were 31 certified candidates for Mayor of Toronto in the 2022 municipal election.
The city said advance voting days for the election will run from June 8 to June 13 with the election day set on June 26. The Mayor of Toronto is the head of Toronto City Council and chief executive officer of the municipal government. He is elected alongside the city council every four years on the fourth Monday of October.
However, this time the by-election was called after Toronto’s long-time Mayor John Tory resigned on February 17 following reports of an affair with a staffer. Nominations for the mayoral election closed on May 12. -
Indian-origin techie run over by a car in Florida
TAMPA, FL (TIP): Mariappan Subramanian, a 32-year-old Indian employee of HCL Technologies, died on the spot after being hit by a car at a pedestrian crossing in Tampa Florida.
Subramanian, who worked as a Test Lead with HCL Technologies, was hit by a car around 7:30 pm EST on Monday, May 15, at a pedestrian crossing in Hillsborough County.
“Though Mari had the right of the way, the car driver apparently, jumped the red light from what we came to know,” a GoFundMe page started by his friends said.
Subramanian is survived by his wife and their four-year-old son who are living in India. He had recently relocated from Jacksonville to Tampa. “We are initiating this fundraiser on behalf of Mrs. Mariappan and seeking your generous support,” the fund organizers said assuring “Your contributions will entirely go to the surviving family. We hope that this will make a positive difference in their future.”
“We are deeply saddened to inform you that our dear friend and colleague Mariappan Subramanian died in a tragic road accident in Hillsborough County, Tampa, FL,” Anand Ramachandran from Fairfield Connecticut said on the fundraiser page. “The incident happened on Monday 15 May 2023 around 7:30 pm EST. He was hit by a car at a pedestrian crossing. Though Mari had the right of the way, the car driver apparently, jumped the red light from what we came to know.
“Mariappan was 32 and is survived by his wife Krishnu and their 4-year-old son Rithvik who are living in India. Mariappan recently relocated from Jacksonville to Tampa. “We are initiating this fundraiser on behalf of Mrs. Mariappan and seeking your generous support. Your contributions will entirely go to the surviving family. We hope that this will make a positive difference in their future. “Besides that, we are working with the local community groups in Tampa and Jacksonville to send the mortal remains to Mariappan’s family in India.” -
Indian Americans favor laws to check gun violence- Study shows
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Last month, a young 33-year-old Indian American engineer was shot by her husband in their house in North Carolina. Nabaruna Karmakar was found dead with two gunshot wounds when the officers arrived at the couple’s home. The police arrested her husband, Michael Aron.
Just earlier this month, the tragic mass shooting at an outlet mall in Allen, a suburb near Dallas, Texas left a young Indian professional dead and another injured.
Earlier this year in January, another Indian American Pinal Patel was shot and killed in his driveway in Georgia. His wife and daughter were injured as the family was attacked by three masked men.
The tragic incidents brought to the fore the fact that gun violence accounted for about half the increase (20%) in mortality rates that occurred among children aged 1 to 19 between 2019 and 2021.
Indian Americans even though making up just 1.35 percent of the population are not any safer from gun violence in America, according to a study.
There may be no figures available to prove it, but traditionally, Indian Americans do not subscribe to the idea of possessing guns for self-protection.
Most Indians, the American Bazaar spoke to for the story, consider the prospect of having guns in households with growing children rather dangerous.
A 2022 Asian American Voter Survey, AAPI data revealed that a whopping 83% of Indian Americans believe that the US needs stricter gun laws.
With growing incidents involving gun violence in America and newer research such as the 2022 Pew study showing nearly half of parents expressing concern about the possibility of their children getting shot, Indian Americans too are looking at ways they can contribute towards reducing gun violence.
The family of slain gun-shot victim, Nabaruna Karmakar are raising money to create awareness about preventing gun violence. Her family set up a GoFundMe to benefit Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund.
The Fund was formed both to educate the public about the detrimental effects of illegal guns to reduce gun violence in the United States and to lessen the burden on the government by assisting local governments and law enforcement agencies in their efforts to develop effective policies to combat illegal guns.
The Fund supports programmatic activities of approximately 1,000 mayors in the coalition of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, as well as other government officials and law enforcement leaders. The fundraiser has already exceeded its $10,000 goal.
Indian Americans are also calling for informed ideas on what changes to demand and expect in the country. Some of those who have now lived in the US for decades say that it is important that newer migrants understand that possessing guns has been a constitutional right in America for centuries.
So instead of randomly talking about revoking gun laws, one needs to push for more logical reforms like mental health evaluations before purchasing a gun or getting licenses renewed every few years or having a responsible guarantor being required for buying a gun.
On social media expat groups are also advising Indians in America to write to their local senators to call for stricter laws around assault rifles. -
Indian American Punjab-born police officer Pratima Bhullar Maldonado becomes highest-ranking South Asian woman in NYPD
NEW YORK (TIP): Captain Pratima Bhullar Maldonado, an Indian-origin police officer has become the highest-ranking South Asian woman in the New York Police Department, a position she was promoted to recently.
Maldonado runs the 102nd Police Precinct in South Richmond Hill, Queens. She was promoted to the rank of Captain last month, media reported on Monday, May 15. The mother of four was born in Punjab and lived there until she was 9 before moving to Queens in New York. “It feels like coming home. I spent more than 25 years of my life in this precinct when I was growing up,” Maldonado said.
South Richmond Hill is home to one of the largest Sikh communities in the country.
“Going to the same Gurdwara that I did as a child, and now as a captain, I love it,” Maldonado said as she visited the Gurdwara. She told the media her new role will help with community policing.
“There are language barriers, people who can’t speak the language, English is a second language. I’ve seen that firsthand growing up here,” she said.
Maldonado is the highest-ranking South Asian woman in the NYPD—a position she was promoted to last month. But it wasn’t easy climbing the ranks, the report said.
“Getting out there and working and protecting people that are cursing you out sometimes and not appreciating what you’re doing, but you still got to do what you got to do,” Maldonado said.
“It’s a big responsibility. I want to be a better and positive example, not only for my community, for other females, kids that see us every day. Because that would change their perspective of how they view law enforcement,” she added.
According to the NYPD, of the department’s 33,787 members, 10.5 per cent are Asian.
“I feel extremely proud. It’s good to show other up and coming Asian, South Asian females that if you work hard enough you too can climb the ladder of success,” Maldonado said.
As New York City celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Maldonado reflected on her late father.
“My dad actually drove a taxi for many years. He supported us. He was a hard worker. He passed away in 2006, before I became a cop. He would have been so proud right now,” she said. -
Indian American Professor Ruma Chopra named Dean of Utah University’s Transform school
SALT LAKE CITY (TIP): Ruma Chopra, an Indian American professor of history has been named dean of University of Utah’s School for Cultural and Social Transformation. She will begin her new role on July 1, 2023.
Chopra will lead the school known as Transform, in its mission to examine the way bias, bigotry, inclusion and equity are centered and thought about, according to a university announcement.
“I am excited to join Transform,” Chopra said. “A school that incorporates interdisciplinary and intersectional learning as its foundation is remarkable, and I look forward to learning how my passion and experiences can be of service to the University of Utah.”
Chopra is co-founder and director of the university-wide honors program at San Jose State University, and a 2021-2022 American Council on Education Fellow.
While at San Jose State University, Chopra served as associate dean of research in the College of Social Science, acting as the primary contact for retention, promotion and tenure standards.
In launching the HonorsX program at the university, she secured Adobe’s partnership to help fund the project, and continued to manage the program budget, supervise staff, lead marketing initiatives and respond to faculty and student concerns.
Before pursuing a doctorate degree and path toward higher education, Chopra worked for seven years in high-tech, holding consulting and managerial positions at Intel, Cisco, Bell Labs and Google. She is a scholar of the American Revolution and American slavery and has authored three books on the subjects.
“Throughout her career, Dr. Chopra has displayed a thoughtful appreciation for research and interdisciplinarity that will be an asset to the School for Cultural and Social Transformation,” University of Utah Provost Mitzi M. Montoya said. “I am grateful that her search for equity and aspirational models in higher education has brought her to the U. I look forward to working with Dr. Chopra as she continues to work toward building a more just world.” Chopra was selected after an extensive national search, which was chaired by Marla DeJong, dean of the College of Nursing, and Edmond Fong, chair of Ethnic Studies, the university said.
Transform was formed in 2016 through a merger of ethnic studies, gender studies and disability studies. It has received ongoing support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, including a $600,000 grant for the Pacific Island Initiative, which was renewed with a $1 million grant in 2022.
The school has 33 faculty members who are highly recognized in the community of academics. -
Indian American A. Dylan Jadeja named as Riot Games’ next CEO
LOS ANGELES (TIP): Indian American A. Dylan Jadeja is set to become the new CEO of Riot Games, the developer behind smash-hit video games like ‘League of Legends,’ ‘Valorant’ and ‘Teamfight Tactics.’
Current global president Jadeja will succeed Nicolo Laurent later this year as Laurent moves into an advisor role, Los Angeles, California-based company announced.
Jadeja first joined Riot in 2011 as Chief Financial Officer and added Chief Operating Officer to his role in 2014. Three years later, he was named President of Riot and in 2022 assumed leadership of Riot’s Executive Suite and Enterprise efforts.
“When our founders transitioned to co-chair roles in 2017, Dylan was named President of Riot and has been one of the key leaders in crafting Riot’s strategy and driving our culture forward,” the company said.
The CEO transition from Nicolo to Dylan will take place over the coming months and should be completed by the end of 2023, after which Nicolo will stay with Riot in an advisory role.
“We talk a lot about staying hungry and humble, and on a day like today, I must admit that ‘humble’ does not sufficiently capture how fortunate I feel,” wrote Jadeja in an email to Rioters.
“I think we have all had the experience of being astounded by the talent surrounding us at Riot, but to be asked to lead this incredible group of people is a special honor and not something that I take lightly. I will do my best to make you proud.” “Today, as we start our next chapter, I’m more excited than I’ve ever been about our future,” he wrote. “I truly believe that our success will depend on our ability to empower our creative heart while staying resolute on our mission for players, no matter how difficult the environment or the situation.”
“As we face new challenges and opportunities, if we can stay true to this, I would bet on us to not only succeed, but to set a new bar for what’s possible for players,” he wrote.
“As CEO, it is fair to assume that I may do some things differently than those before me, but I want to assure you that the goal for us — together — will not waver. And that is to make Riot, unequivocally, the most trusted and authentic game company in the world… built by players, for players,” Jadeja wrote.
“The kind of place where people know that everything they play and experience from Riot will be amazing and that everything we do is focused on making it better to be a player.”
A key leader in Riot’s exponential growth and global expansion over the years, Jadeja has been a member of the senior executive team at Riot Games for more than a decade, according to his company profile.
As President, Jadeja oversees Riot’s global corporate strategy and development, venture investments, legal, finance and accounting, enterprise technology and security, human resources, corporate affairs, real estate and other key operational functions.
A longtime advocate for social impact and diversity & inclusion, he also spearheaded and oversees Riot’s $10 million commitment to investments in underrepresented founders in the gaming industry.
During his tenure in this role, he has architected numerous strategic investments for Riot, including the acquisitions of Hypixel Studios and Radiant Entertainment. In addition, Jadeja led the company’s 2015 equity sale to Tencent Holdings, Ltd. Before hanging up his suit and tie to enter the world of gaming, Dylan was co-head of West Coast Consumer Retail Coverage for Goldman Sachs.
His work with Goldman focused on financial transactions for Fortune 500 and mid-market companies, including mergers and acquisitions diligence, equity offerings, shareholder activism-related consulting, and recapitalization/restructuring analysis.
While there, Jadeja led highly successful transactions including Lululemon’s 2007 IPO and the 2010 sale of retailer Gymboree. Prior to Goldman, he began his career with Kearney Management Consulting.
Jadeja received his undergraduate degree from the University of Western Ontario Richard Ivey School of Business and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he was named a George F. Baker Scholar and was a 2004 Siebel Scholar. Jadeja is an advisor to several companies in tech and consumer products and is on the Boards of the Los Angeles Food Bank and Intentional Sports. A native of India, he was raised in Ontario, Canada, where he developed his incorrigible addiction to ice hockey and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with Dylan for years, and I’ve learned so much from him. He’s a natural leader who will do everything in his power to unlock our creative talent to do their best work,” Laurent stated.
“One of his biggest strengths? Empathy. The best leaders for the future will be the ones who can lead at scale, with empathy, and Dylan is one of them. He’s genuine and humble in his leadership, but also unafraid to ask tough questions to get to the best answer. “But most importantly, Dylan has a strong passion for Riot’s culture and DNA. He appreciates what makes Riot special — great Rioters and great teams, who love players, and love games — and will make sure we keep evolving to always be the best version of Riot we can be.” -
Indian American Geeta Rao Gupta to be Ambassador at Large for Global Women’s Issues
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Indian American Geeta Rao Gupta has been confirmed by the US Senate as the Ambassador at Large for Global Women’s Issues in the State Department. The department in a tweet on Friday, May 12 said it is looking forward to her efforts to promote women and girls’ rights through US foreign policy. Gupta was confirmed by the US Senate by 51 to 47 votes early this week.
According to Gupta, there are many inequities and indignities that women suffer around the world, which hold them back from participating fully in the economy. “They are subject to threats to their safety and have a fear of violence even on a daily basis, and that determines their mobility. “In situations of conflict and emergencies and humanitarian crises they are particularly vulnerable, both in terms of their safety but also in terms of their being able to look after their families and feed their families,” she said during her confirmation hearing last year. -
Indian American Executive Punit Renjen appointed SAP Supervisory Board deputy chairperson
NEW YORK (TIP): Deloitte Global’s former Indian American CEO Punit Renjen has been elected a member of the prestigious SAP Supervisory Board and named deputy chairperson of the market leader in enterprise application software. The election of Renjen, 61 was supported by 99.21% of the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting of SAP SE, in Waldorf, Germany, according to a company release.
With that, the handover process from current Chairman Prof. Hasso Plattner to Renjen as the designated successor of the Chairman of the Board has started.
Company co-founder and current Chairman of the Board, Hasso Plattner, is scheduled to leave the SAP Supervisory Board when his current mandate expires after the 2024 AGM.
As a first step in this process, in an extraordinary meeting immediately following the AGM the Supervisory Board elected Punit Renjen as a Deputy Chairperson of the Supervisory Board.
“We believe that Punit Renjen is an excellent candidate who, with his outstanding expertise, his many years of experience in a global company, and his valuable knowledge of many industries, represents a gain for SAP and our Supervisory Board. And we all find him to be an extremely suitable and capable candidate to take over my role as chairperson of the Supervisory Board in the future,” said Hasso Plattner.
Punit Renjen added, “I am very thankful for the trust SAP shareholders put in me. I am looking forward to working with talented colleagues around the world to ensure SAP strengthens its position as an enterprise application leader in the cloud.” Last March President Joe Biden appointed Renjen to the President’s Export Council that serves as the principal national advisory committee on international trade.
Renjen retired as Deloitte Global CEO on Dec 31, 2022, after having served in the role since June 2015. Under Renjen’s leadership Deloitte launched WorldClass—a global effort to prepare 100 million underprivileged people for a world of opportunity—based on the belief that when society thrives, business thrives, according to his official profile. Over his career, Renjen has been recognized by numerous organizations for his leadership, business acumen and commitment to societal impact.
In 2022, Renjen was recognized by the Economic Times as “Global Indian of the Year” and the Carnegie Corporation of America as one of 34 “Great Immigrants. Great Americans.”
In 2021, the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum recognized Renjen with its Global Achievement Award. In 2020, Renjen was awarded the Oregon History Makers Medal. Renjen was raised in Rohtak, Haryana. After earning an MBA in management from Oregon’s Willamette University, he was hired by Touche Ross, which merged into Deloitte in 1989. He has worked at Deloitte and lived in the US ever since. -
Indian-origin professional Aishwarya Thatikonda killed in Texas shooting
DALLAS (TIP): Friends from school fondly remember 28-year-old Aishwarya Thatikonda as “Rowdy” – a nickname she earned for her courage and bold personality.
The young Indian professional was among those who were killed when a gunman opened fire at an outlet mall in Allen near Dallas in Texas. A total of eight people were killed before the police shot the gunman down.
Thatikonda was with another Indian friend when the gunman opened fire in the outlet mall killing unsuspecting shoppers. Her friend was also injured in the incident.
She worked as a project manager in Frisco based Perfect General Contractors LLC in Texas and lived in the Dallas suburb of McKinney. Thatikonda hailed from Hyderabad and came to the US for her Masters from Eastern Michigan University after completing her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Osmania University.
Aishwarya did her masters in construction management in the US and was on a work-based visa. Her family hails from Saroornagar in Hyderabad. Her family in Hyderabad are devastated. Aishwarya’s father Narsi Reddy works as a judge in Rangareddy district court in Hyderabad.
School friends remember Aishwarya as someone who would always step in to help her friends whether it was to clear backlogs or donate money to NGOs.
The news of an Indian killed among those who lost their lives in Texas shooting, has cast a pall of gloom over the Indian community not just in Dallas, Texas but across the US.
Thatikonda’s family is now looking to repatriate her mortal remains to India.
As Vice President Kamala Harris noted in a statement “Allen, Texas was torn apart by a senseless mass shooting at a shopping mall—one of far too many communities impacted by gun violence.”
“While there is much we do not yet know about this attack, here is what we do know: all Americans deserve to be safe from gun violence. But they are not,” she stated.
“Not because we do not know the solutions. Not because the American people are divided on this issue – even a majority of gun owners support sensible reforms,” Harris stated calling for gun reforms. -
Indian American Vishal Gaur named dean of Cornell School of Management
ITHACA, NY (TIP): Indian American professor and Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi alumnus Vishal Gaur has been named the Anne and Elmer Lindseth Dean of the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management in Cornell University. Gaur, the Emerson Professor of Manufacturing Management and professor of operations, technology, and information management, will begin his role as dean July 1, according to a university release. Cornell SC Johnson College of Business Dean Andrew Karolyi announced May 5 that Gaur will also serve as a member of his College Leadership Team. Gaur joined the Cornell faculty in 2007 and previously served as associate dean for MBA programs at the Johnson School.
“Vishal has demonstrated his outstanding commitment to the Johnson School time and again, as a distinguished scholar, as an award-winning educator and especially as an effective leader,” Karolyi stated. “I couldn’t be more pleased that he’ll lead the school into its next phase.”
“The Johnson School is a leader in graduate business education and scholarship. I’m really excited to work towards the mission of the school,” Gaur stated.
“Our degree programs focus on skills relevant to society and draw on our interdisciplinary academic scholarship. The support of our alumni and the investments they make in our school are incredible. Since the Johnson School joined the SC Johnson College, new opportunities have emerged for faculty research, teaching, and collaboration.”
As associate dean for MBA programs from 2014-19, Gaur launched the Digital Technology Immersion, in which MBA candidates and students earning their MPS in data science or applied statistics develop skills in coding, databases and advanced analytics and learn to leverage them to tackle challenges faced by leading companies, according to the university release.
Gaur also created the Master of Science in Business Analytics program offered through eCornell, which provides working professionals a hands-on opportunity to learn about data analytics tools essential to analyzing and optimizing business decisions.
“The creation of these programs represents Vishal’s forward-thinking leadership, which will continue to serve students well into the future,” Karolyi stated.
Gaur’s research focuses on data-driven analysis of problems in supply chains, retailing, e-commerce and marketplace operations, and his work was recognized with the Wickham Skinner Early Career Research Accomplishments Award from the Production and Operations Management Society in 2006, the release stated.
He created a method for benchmarking inventory turnover performance of firms, and his current projects involve the reduction of food waste and supply chain risk.
Gaur is the 2022 recipient of the Class of 1992 Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching, the 2020 recipient of the Stephen Russell Distinguished Teaching Award and a three-time winner of the Johnson School’s Core Faculty Award. Well-known among students for the care and attention he gives to his teaching, he currently teaches the Semester in Strategic Operations MBA immersion course, where students go on site visits and work on client projects in topics such as industry 4.0, traceability, and sales and operations planning.
Gaur earned his PhD from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania (2001), MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (1995) and BTech in Computer Science and Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (1993).
Founded in 1946, the Johnson School now enrolls nearly 1,600 students in MBA, executive MBA and advanced degree programs in management, accounting, business analytics and more. Programs are offered in Ithaca, the New York City metropolitan area, Beijing and more than 20 additional cities across North and South America. -
Indian American Swadesh Chatterjee elected to North Carolina University Board of Governors
CHAPEL HILL, NC (TIP): Swadesh Chatterjee, an Indian American businessman, entrepreneur, and community leader, has been elected to the University of North Carolina Board of Governors for a four-year term.
Chatterjee, 75, was elected with five others — Dr. Pearl Burris-Floyd, C. Philip Byers, R. Gene Davis, Jr., H. Terry Hutchens, and J. Alex Mitchell — by a resolution of the North Carolina House on May 3 for terms commencing July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2027.
Chatterjee, chief executive officer of Swadesh Chatterjee & Associates, Inc is a Vice Chair of Chancellor’s Global Leadership Council, a group of successful international business leaders, policy experts, innovative entrepreneurs, and philanthropists who are committed to providing strategic financial support for UNC’s global mission.
The GLC is comprised of alumni and friends who are aligned with different schools and units, personally engaged with global topics, or have significant regional expertise and interests.
Chatterjee, who operated an industrial instrumentation company in North Carolina, is one of the co-founders and past presidents of TiE Carolinas, a group of businesspeople whose primary goal is to develop and assist fledgling entrepreneurs. He sits on the board of various pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and other life science companies in the US, Europe, and India. Last October North Carolina Governor Ray Cooper presented the State’s highest award, Order of the Long Leaf Pine to Chatterjee. Cooper described Chatterjee as a “spark plug among us” as he applauded his contribution not only to the development of North Carolina but also to the India-US relationship and enriching the cultural milieu of the United States. In January 2009, Chatterjee was inducted as a member of the Indian Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council of People of Indian Origin.
In 2007 he was the first recipient of the Community Leader of the Year award by India Abroad. Chatterjee was conferred the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian awards, by the President of India in 2001, in the public affairs category for building better relations between the US and India.
He is the author of Building Bridges: How Indian Americans Brought the United States and India Closer Together (2014). He has a Bachelor of Science in physics from the University of Calcutta and a Bachelor of Science in instrumentation and electronic engineering from Jadavpur University. He received his Master of Business Administration from North Carolina State University. -
Indian American Neera Tanden named as Biden’s domestic policy adviser
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP)– President Joe Biden announced on Friday, May 5, that Indian American policy expert Neera Tanden will serve as his new domestic policy adviser in place of Susan Rice, who plans to leave the administration later this month.
Tanden, 53, has spent the last year-and-a-half as senior adviser and staff secretary in the White House, after her initial nomination to run the Office of Management and Budget faltered in the face of Senate opposition.
Daughter of an immigrant single mother “from India who was left to make it on her own in America with two young children after her divorce” from her father, Tanden will be the first Asian-American to lead any of the three major White House policy councils in history. “While growing up, Neera relied on some of the critical programs that she will oversee as Domestic Policy Advisor,” Biden noted in a statement announcing the move. “I know those insights will serve my Administration and the American people well.”
In addition, the White House announced that Stef Feldman, a longtime Biden aide dating back to the Obama administration, will replace Tanden in the role of staff secretary.
“For over two years, Susan Rice has helped craft and implement my domestic policy agenda and our country owes a debt of gratitude for her history-making public service,” Biden said.
“I am pleased to announce that Neera Tanden will continue to drive the formulation and implementation of my domestic policy, from economic mobility and racial equity to health care, immigration, and education.
“As Senior Advisor and Staff Secretary, Neera oversaw decision-making processes across my domestic, economic and national security teams,” Biden said.
“She has 25 years of experience in public policy, has served three Presidents, and led one of the largest think tanks in the country for nearly a decade,” he noted.
She was a key architect of the Affordable Care Act and helped drive key domestic policies that became part of my agenda, including clean energy subsidies and sensible gun reform.
“While growing up, Neera relied on some of the critical programs that she will oversee as Domestic Policy Advisor, and I know those insights will serve my Administration and the American people well. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Neera in her new role,” Biden said.
Tanden served in both the Obama and Clinton administrations, as well as presidential campaigns and think tanks. Most recently, Tanden was the President and CEO of the Center for American Progress and the Center for American Progress Action Fund.
Tanden previously served as senior advisor for health reform at the Department of Health and Human Services, working on President Obama’s health reform team in the White House.
Prior to that, she was the director of domestic policy for the Obama-Biden presidential campaign, and served as policy director for the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign.
Tanden served as senior advisor to the Chancellor of the New York City Schools and also served as Associate Director for Domestic Policy in the Clinton White House and Senior Policy Advisor to the First Lady.
Tanden received her Bachelor of Science from UCLA and her Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School. -
Indian-origin drunk driver kills 2 teenagers in a car crash
NEW YORK (TIP): A drunk Indian-origin pick-up truck driver slammed into a car killing two 14-year-old boys on the spot and injuring two others in Long Island, New York, police said.
Amandeep Singh, 34, was driving his 2019 Dodge Ram south in the northbound lanes on North Broadway in Jericho on Wednesday when he smashed into a 2019 Alfa Romeo four-door sedan with four male teens inside, Nassau County Police said on Thursday. While two teens — identified as Drew Hassenbein and Ethan Falkowitz — were pronounced dead at the scene, the other two, aged 16 and 17, were taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries, Fox News reported.
Describing the scene, Nassau County Police Detective Capt Stephen Fitzpatrick said it was “probably one of the most catastrophic scenes I’ve seen in a long time”.
Singh, a resident of Roslyn, New York, fled the scene after the initial collision and struck another vehicle — a 2023 Volvo driven by a 49-year-old woman and a 16-year-old male passenger, police said, adding that both the victims were treated at the scene and released.
Singh was arrested the same day and transported to a local hospital for minor injuries.
He has been charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, first-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter, leaving the scene of an auto accident with a fatality, driving while intoxicated, and two counts of second-degree assault. Singh was arraigned on Thursday, May 4, at First District Court in Hempstead.
According to prosecutors, Singh’s Blood Alcohol Concentration was twice the legal limit at the time of the collision.
The court heard that he had previously been convicted of a DWI (driving while intoxicated) and gang assault as a teenager. -
Indian-origin man sentenced for 20 years for assaulting and murdering woman with Down’s syndrome in New Zealand
MELBOURNE (TIP): A 33-year-old Indian-origin homeless man has been sentenced to nearly 20 years imprisonment in New Zealand for sexually violating and fatally strangling a woman with Down’s syndrome in September 2021, a media report said. Shamal Sharma violently preyed on 27-year-old Lena Zhang Harrap, a woman with Down syndrome when she was out on her daily walk in Auckland on September 22, 2021, a newspaper reported on Thursday, May 4. Harrap’s body was found partially concealed along a bush-lined walkway about a kilometer from her Mt Albert home after a large-scale, hours-long search involving police and members of the public, the report said.
Sharma, who has been ordered to spend the next 19 and a half years in prison was arrested on September 24, two days after committing the heinous crime, the report said.
According to police, Harrap was tortured over a period of about two hours, inflicting multiple blows to her face before strangling her, which led to her death. Harrap had received 13 bruises and abrasions to her head, as well as blunt force trauma that caused brain injuries but was not fatal.
Some injuries were so brutal that they could have independently caused her death, Crown prosecutor Matthew Nathan was quoted as saying as he acknowledged Sharma’s history of schizophrenia but noted that he was not found to be legally insane at the time of the offending and that the attack was motivated by sexual desire.
“This has a degree of sadism through the infliction of pain,” Nathan told the judge.
Sharma was also charged with harassing another woman who was jogging in Henderson, West Auckland, 24 hours prior to violently murdering Harrap.
He stared forward with no discernable emotion in the High Court after the court announced the minimum term of imprisonment for the mandatory life sentence, it said. “No sentence is long enough, and no justice can replace the life and love that was lost,” Harrap’s mother, Su Harrap was quoted as saying. -
Indian-Origin Canada’s Kabaddi Federation president Kamaljit Kang shot at outside his house in Surrey
SURREY (TIP): Canada’s Kabaddi Federation president Kamaljit Singh Kang alias Neetu Kang was shot at outside his house by unknown assailants in Surrey’s Bear Creek area on Friday, May 5.
The assailants managed to escape the spot before the police arrived.
A viral video shows the shooters waiting at the driveway of his house and shot at him as soon as he came out.
Kang was a member of the North India Circle Style Kabaddi Association, Canada.
Originally hailing from the Uggi village in Jalandhar, Kang has been settled in Canada for the past over 20 years.
Sources revealed that Kang’s Kabaddi related affairs were primarily based in Canada.
His shooting comes just a day after another key Kabaddi promoter Surjan Singh Chatha’s arrest for the murder of Kabaddi player Sandeep Singh Nangal Ambiyan. -
Indian American Georgia based doctor indicted for sexually assaulting patients
ATLANTA (TIP): An Indian-origin primary care physician in Georgia has been accused of sexually assaulting four of his female patients during routine check-ups over a 12-month period.
Rajesh Motibhai Patel, 68, was indicted last week on multiple counts of violating his patients’ constitutional right to bodily integrity while acting under color of law and for engaging in unwanted sexual contact, a Department of Justice release said.According to information presented in court, between 2019 and 2020, Patel, a physician at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Decatur, allegedly assaulted four of his female patients by touching them improperly during routine exams. Investigators believe that Patel may have victimized additional patients.
“Patel allegedly sexually abused his female patients and violated his oath to do no harm to patients under his care,” US Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said.
“Veterans and their families expect and deserve the highest quality of healthcare delivered in a safe and accountable setting,” Veteran Affairs Inspector General Michael J. Missal said. He said that the department has been cooperating with the law enforcement to ensure the safety of patients. -
Two nurses from India shortlisted for Global Nursing Award
LONDON (TIP): Two nurses from India are in the running for a prestigious USD 250,000 Global Nursing Award, organized by Dubai-headquartered private healthcare service provider Aster DM Healthcare to honor the contributions of nurses worldwide.
Shanti Teresa Lakra, who works among Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Kerala-born and Ireland-based Jincy Jerry are among 10 worldwide finalists undergoing a public voting process before being evaluated by a grand jury judging panel for the award.
The winner will be awarded at a ceremony in London on May 12, which is marked worldwide as International Nurses Day.
“The Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award was started because we felt a necessity to celebrate the nurses and recognize them,” said Dr Azad Moopen, India-born Founder Chairman and Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare, which operates healthcare services in India and the Gulf.
“We have about 8,000 nurses in our own organization, and we have seen the way in which they put their heart and soul into serving and saving the patients. Being a doctor, I have seen and appreciated their hard work for the healthcare system at large and most recently over the COVID challenges. They were the frontline soldiers in that fight,” he said.
Shanti Teresa Lakra, from the G.B. Pant Hospital in Port Blair and a Padma Shri recipient for her nursing service over the years, has spent considerable time within the tribal community of Andaman and Nicobar to gain their trust and assist with their healthcare needs.
In 2004, when the tsunami hit the Ongee Island habitat and drove them deep into the jungle, she made her home with them and lived in an open tent. She now works for all the major tribes in the region, something which brought her to the attention of the global award.
“I work as a grassroots level worker in a very remote area and my whole world belongs to the tribals residing in a very interior and isolated part of Andaman and Nicobar islands. To be a finalist in these awards is overwhelming because I never dreamt of it,” said Lakra, in an interview ahead of the award ceremony.
She pointed to language and other socio-economic barriers that make her work on the island quite challenging but fulfilling at the same time. “They are very shy by nature, and it isn’t easy for them to share information about their health problems. I strive to provide the best care I possibly can,” she said. The other nurse from India in the running for the public vote is Jincy Jerry of Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin, who serves as Assistant Director of Nursing for Infection Prevention and Control.
Her work in designing an appropriate software solution to cut down on the potential for human error while collating results from laboratories is among the factors behind her being shortlisted. Jerry, who is also part of the Infection Prevention Society UK, firmly believes that innovation is a way to increase quality and patient safety.
“In 2020, I introduced robotic process automation to the hospital. Our workload was very high at the time, so we introduced the system to counter that. Currently, I am working on around eight projects in the pipeline including work on using artificial intelligence (AI) to assist, train and modify behaviors on hygiene,” said Jerry, whose work has also been recognized by the Irish Healthcare Awards.
“If we have the right technology, we can save so much valuable time. It’s crucial that the nursing profession benefits from it,” she added.
Besides the nurses from India and Ireland, high-achieving nurses from England, the UAE, Kenya, Tanzania, Panama, Singapore, Portugal and the Philippines make up the finalists in the public vote stage of the vote before the winner is announced in London on Friday. Aster DM Healthcare said it chose the UK capital for the 2023 award ceremony for its strong healthcare tradition in the state-funded National Health Service (NHS) and as the birthplace of Florence Nightingale – the founder of modern nursing. -
Indian-origin Anurag Chandra found guilty of killing teens who played doorbell-ringing prank at his house in US
NEW YORK (TIP): An Indian-origin has been found guilty of killing three teenage boys who played a doorbell-ringing prank at his house in the US state of California, according to a media report.
Anurag Chandra, a Riverside County resident, was found guilty of three counts of attempted murder and three counts of first-degree murder on Friday, the report said. The incident took place on January 19, 2020, when a group of teenage boys rang Chandra’s bell on a dare, the report added.
Chandra said that one of the teens flashed his buttocks before running away.
The crash killed all three teenagers who were 16 years old, it said.
Chandra, who drank 12 beers the day of the crash, said he was “extremely, extremely mad” at the prank and claimed he was worried about his family’s safety. He followed the boys and rammed their Toyota Prius off the road, which slammed into a tree in Temescal Valley. The suspect testified that he did not plan to crash into the boys’ car, according to the report. Chandra also said he did not stop after rear-ending their vehicle because he did not think anyone had been injured. The driver, who was 18 years old, survived, along with two 13-year-old passengers.
Chandra is already facing charges in connection with a domestic violence incident in 2020 before the fatal crash.