Sandip Somany takes over as President of FICCI for 2018-19

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has elected Mr Sandip Somany, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, HSIL Limited as its President for 2018-19, after the conclusion of its 91st Annual General Meeting on December 14-15.

With this coveted industry acknowledgment, Mr Somany will be working closely with Government and business leaders towards spearheading the country's economic growth and promote inclusiveness. He was previously working as the Senior Vice President, FICCI.

While Ms Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director of the Apollo Hospitals Group has now been elevated as the Senior Vice President of FICCI for 2018-19; Mr Uday Shankar, currently the Chairman and CEO of Star India and President of 21st Century Fox Asia-Pacific (Only Asia), who has recently been appointed Chairman, Star and Disney India, and President of the Walt Disney Company, Asia-Pacific, a role that he will take over after the takeover of 21CF by The Walt Disney takes place, has joined the FICCI leadership as Vice President of the apex industry chamber.

With this, FICCI's top leadership for 2018-19 represents a diverse expertise domain from manufacturing, healthcare and media & entertainment.

Mr Sandip Somany, President, FICCI:

In the past, FICCI President Mr Sandip Somany has held many industry leadership positions, including that of President of Ph.D. Chamber of Commerce and Industry and President of International Chamber of Commerce India chapter (headquartered in Paris). He was also the Chairman of Indian Council of Sanitaryware Manufacturers (INCOSAMA) and a member of the Executive Committee of Governing Council of All India Glass Manufacturers Association.

Mr Somany is widely recognized as a pioneer of the Indian ceramic industry and has played an instrumental role in making it an organized industry. With more than three decades of industry experience, a penchant for anticipating market needs and a constant thrust on innovation, Mr Somany has led HSIL???s evolution from an Indian sanitaryware maker to a diversified home solutions company.

Expressing gratitude and talking about his vision for the industry, Mr Somany said, "I am thankful for FICCI's vote of confidence in appointing me as the President. This position is a great opportunity as it will allow me to continue to work within FICCI to meet its objectives aligned with industries at large, and our country. I look forward to engaging with industry stalwarts and leaders to foster an ecosystem of innovation and growth, together building consensus between industry and policy."

Mr Somany holds a degree from the prestigious University of California, USA and has a Bachelor's degree from the Delhi University. He is an avid reader, keeps abreast of world's political and economic news and is an adventure sports enthusiast.

Ms Sangita Reddy, Senior Vice President, FICCI:

FICCI Senior Vice President, Ms Sangita Reddy, greatly inspired by her father and founding Chairman, Dr Prathap C Reddy's mission to bring healthcare within the reach of every individual, formally joined Apollo Hospitals in 1983.  

Passionately committed to transforming healthcare using effective and efficient technology, Ms Reddy has steered Apollo Hospitals to harness technological advancements in accelerating positive transformation and using Telemedicine. She was also instrumental in the group's retail and primary healthcare expansion, leads the Human Resources and Education initiatives of the group and led a partnership between Apollo Hospitals and the National Skill Development Corporation. 

She was on the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on Digital Health and was nominated by the Government of India as a Member of the Technology Development Board, Department of Science and Technology. She is an Independent Director on the board of many companies and was a member of the Rockefeller Working Group focused on the private sector's role in global healthcare. 

Ms Reddy graduated in Science with Honours from the Women's Christian College in Chennai, India. She then did her post-graduation courses in Hospital Administration from Rutgers University, Harvard University and the National University of Singapore (NUS). She was conferred with the Honorary Doctorate in 2017 by Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.

Mr Uday Shankar, Vice President, FICCI:

FICCI Vice President, Mr Uday Shankar is the first ever Indian media and entertainment executive to assume the leadership position in a national industry chamber like FICCI, which is also the oldest in the country.

A trendsetter in the media and entertainment industry for over two decades, he played a leadership role in making Star India - one of the largest Media & Entertainment companies in India, reaching over 720 million viewers a month across the country and more than 100 other countries. 

Mr Shankar has been a leading voice in the Indian media and broadcasting sector, shaping reforms for the industry and its consumers. As the Chairman of the FICCI Media & Entertainment Committee and former President of the Indian Broadcasting Federation, he has been at the forefront of landmark changes in self-regulation and pushing access for consumers to the digitized distribution.

Mr Shankar entered media as a political journalist with The Times of India and rose to become the CEO and Editor of 'Star News' after spearheading the successful launch of country's first 24-hour Hindi news channel 'Aaj Tak' in 2000, and 'Headlines Today' in English in 2003, as Editor and News Director of the 'TV Today' Group.

He holds an M. Phil in Economic History from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. Mr Shankar is an ardent reader and his knowledge domain transcends from literature to politics, economics and sports.