Washington D.C., New Delhi, June 6, 2022: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) announced the addition of Managing Partner, Celesta Capital and former Assistant Secretary of Commerce, Arun Kumar as an Advisor to the Global Board and UPS President for Indian Subcontinent, Middle East and Africa (ISMEA), Ufku Akaltan to its Global Board. Effective immediately these two distinguished leaders will join the USIBC Global Board of Directors.
Ambassador (Ret.) Atul Keshap, President, USIBC said: “I am thrilled to announce the addition of two distinguished and accomplished leaders to our diverse global board of directors. Arun Kumar, with his vast experience of leading KPMG in India and as a senior American commercial diplomat, has been a key architect of U.S.-India commercial ties. As the countries look forward to expanded trade ties, his valuable insights clubbed with our policy expertise will certainly be an added advantage for member organizations.”
“As the head of Indian Subcontinent, Middle East, and Africa for UPS, Ufku Akaltan’s global exposure and deep business expertise will bring additional adroitness and profound insight to the dynamic and important U.S.-India trade relationship. I am delighted to welcome him to the Board as we gear up for a power-packed year ahead.”
Arun M Kumar currently serves as Managing Partner for Celesta Capital. Previously, Arun was Chairman & CEO of KPMG in India for a five-year term that ended on February 6, 2022. He was a member of KPMG’s Global Board as well as KPMG’s Europe Middle East & Africa Board. Arun led an organization of thousands of talented professionals constituting the second-largest firm in terms of employee strength within KPMG globally. During this period, KPMG India recorded extraordinary growth in revenues, profits, and people – along with organizational transformation.
Arun previously served in President Obama’s Administration as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets and Director General of the U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service. As a senior United States commercial diplomat, he headed a bureau of 1700 professionals in 78 countries and all the 50 states. He was the Administration’s lead official to promote U.S. exports and inward foreign direct investment and supported enhanced market access around the world. He was a key architect of the U.S.-India Strategic & Commercial Dialogue in 2015-16. Among the initiatives he championed was the establishment of the Commercial Diplomacy Institute, housed in the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Ufku Akaltan is UPS President for Indian Subcontinent, Middle East and Africa (ISMEA). The region, including as well Central Asia, represents more than 70 high growth markets and is a significant component of UPS’s international strategy. Based in Dubai, Ufku oversees expansion and enhancement of the company’s market reach and global capabilities to better serve customers in the region. Ufku’s leadership underscores UPS’s strategy of being customer first, people led and innovation driven. In his current role, Ufku is responsible for expanding UPS’s footprint in the ISMEA countries, positioning UPS as a trade enabler and growth driver within ISMEA and through the trade lanes with USA, Europe and Asia Pacific by guiding investments in network, technology and partnerships. He also drives forward UPS’s dynamic vision of creating a more sustainable company – and world – by being customer first, people led and innovation driven. Among his priorities will be contributing towards UPS’s Environment and Sustainability Goals of carbon neutrality for the company’s global operations by 2050, as well as making UPS an even better place to work and an employer of choice.
About U.S.-India Business Council
Established in 1975 at the behest of the U.S. and Indian Governments, the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) represents hundreds of top global companies operating across the United States, India, and the Indo-Pacific. Amid dynamic growth within the U.S.-India commercial partnership, we serve as the premier voice of industry and create connections between businesses and governments across both countries. Through our flagship Washington, D.C. and New Delhi offices and presences across both countries, we work with members to identify and advance key policy priorities. Recognizing that U.S.-India trade is increasingly driven by new business hubs, USIBC is also focused on strengthening connections between cities and states. USIBC’s policy expertise and impact is enhanced by being a part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, whose thousands of member companies represent the power of free enterprise to enhance the peace, freedom, and security of people in America and around the world.
