Inderfurth to stay on as an Adviser.
By Deepak Chitnis
WASHINGTON, DC: The Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) has announced that Richard Rossow has joined the organization as its Wadhwani Chair of US-India Policy Studies.
Rossow, whose appointment was announced by the CSIS, will take over from incumbent Karl Inderfurth. He brings years of experience in US-India politics and relations to the table in his new position. He was the former director of operations for the US-India Business Council (USIBC), and is currently the head of the South Asia division of McLarty Associates, a law firm with which he’s been with for the past two years.
Rossow, who spends about two months every year living in India, helped grow the USIBC into a critical component of the US-India bilateral relationship during his 10 year tenure there. Rossow was in charge of managing the USIBCs policy advocacy groups in the areas of IT, energy, telecommunications, media, insurance, and entertainment. Today, the USIBC is the world’s number-one organization dedicated to strengthening economic ties between the oldest and largest democracies on Earth.
He has also worked at New York Life Insurance Company, from 2008 to 2012, as their head of International Government Affairs, developing strategies to influence regulatory laws and practices in overseas markets where New York Life conducts business – India being one of the most major such markets.
“No other think tank in Washington is as focused on the U.S.-India economic relationship as CSIS, with the support of the Wadhwani Foundation,” said Romesh Wadhwani, the CEO of Symphony Technology Group and CSIS trustee after whom the position is named. “Richard Rossow brings real-world experience, creative ideas, and a positive, pragmatic approach to reaching top policymakers in both countries. We are delighted [that] he will be building on the strong foundation that Rick Inderfurth leaves behind.”
Inderfurth, the departing Wadhwani Chair, will remain at CSIS as a senior adviser for south Asia. He was formerly the Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, the position now filled by Nisha Desai Biswal.
Wadhwani’s company, Symphony Technology group, is comprised of 12 software and services companies, which total over $2.5 billion in revenue per year and employ over 15,000 workers. Wadhwani created the Wadhwani Foundation with the sole purpose of “accelerating economic development in India and emerging economies.”
To contact the author, email to deepakchitnis@americanbazaaronline.com