GE India president joins USIBC board

Tejpreet Singh Chopra is the fifth high profile business executive to join in recent weeks the board of a leading advocacy group seeking stronger US-India commercial ties.

GE India President and CEO Tejpreet Singh Chopra is the fifth high profile business executive to join in recent weeks the board of a leading advocacy group seeking stronger US-India commercial ties.

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Announcing his appointment to the US-India Business Council's board of directors in Washington on Monday, group chairman Charles "Chip" Kaye said, "GE India's close association with USIBC, coupled with GE's positive experience in India, will serve as a powerful beacon that will attract the best technologies and best practices to India.

"I am confident that his (Chopra's) leadership and in-country presence will enable us as an organisation to more effectively facilitate and support the dynamic 'two-way' nature of the US-India relationship emerging between our countries and companies."

Chopra's appointment to the group representing 250 of the largest US companies investing in India and two dozen largest Indian global companies follows that of PepsiCo chairman and CEO Indra K Nooyi, Boeing India president Ian Thomas, Citi India CEO Sanjay Nayar and Merrill Lynch International chairman James Quigley.

Two other influential persons, former US ambassador to India Richard F Celeste, and former director of the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency, Lt Gen Jeffrey B Kohler, have joined the business lobby as senior advisors.

Chopra said of his appointment, "We, at GE, are committed to being a growth partner to India by leveraging our diverse set of businesses to help the country meet some of its priorities and contribute to India's economic development.

"I am truly excited to be serving on the USIBC Board, where I can offer GE's experience of doing business in India, while helping shape the strategic course of USIBC."

Chopra took the position of president and CEO, GE India, in June 2007, and is responsible for directing GE's strategies for growth in the country. Having held various business roles in France, Britain, Hong Kong, India and the US, Chopra brings considerable management and global finance experience to this position.

Prior to assuming his current role, Chopra served as the president & CEO of GE Commercial Finance in India, where he successfully restructured and expanded the business, establishing GE Commercial Finance as one of the premier financial institutions in India.

A 10-year GE veteran, Chopra has held positions in marketing, structured finance and risk management, in Stamford and Hong Kong for GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS).

Chopra is a member of the National Council of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and figures on the National Executive Board of the American Chamber of Commerce in India (AMCHAM).

GE is made up of a broad range of six industry-focused groups: GE Infrastructure, GE Commercial Financial Services, GE Industrial, NBC Universal, GE Healthcare and GE Consumer Finance.

Today, all of GE's global businesses have a presence in India. The company participates in a wide range of manufacturing, services and technology businesses in the country.

GE's revenues in India are approximately $2.8 billion. It exports over $1 billion in products and services, and its employment across India exceeds 14,500.