ADB appoints L.Venkatachalam as vice-president

MANILA - The Board of Directors of ADB yesterday approved the appointment of Lakshmi Venkatachalam from India as Vice-President (Private Sector and Cofinancing Operations) for a term of three years.

As ADB’s fifth Vice-President, Ms. Venkatachalam will be responsible for ADB’s private sector and cofinancing operations. Under ADB’s long-term Strategy 2020 framework, ADB plans to scale up private sector operations and cofinancing partnerships.

She has over 30 years experience in senior management positions including Principal Secretary to the Government of Karnataka, overseeing the departments of Commerce and Industry; Urban Development; Planning, Program Implementation; and Economics and Statistics.

In addition to her current position as Director General of Shipping and Ex-Officio Additional Secretary to Government of India, her recent posts also include Commissioner, Bangalore Development Authority, and Managing Director of the State Cooperative Marketing Federation, in Karnataka, as also Director in the Ministry of Steel, Government of India.

She has been the Chairperson of the Coffee Board of India in 2000-2005, during which period she represented India at the International Coffee Organization London, and whose Council she chaired in 2001-2002.

Venkatachalam holds an M.A. in Economics and Masters in Business Administration from Boston University. (ANI)