Distinguished Fellows 2025
IOD's Distinguished Fellow - 2025
M. Nagaraju, IAS
Secretary
Dept. of Financial Services
Ministry of Finance
India
M. Nagaraju is an IAS officer belonging to Tripura cadre. After graduating in Economics and having completed his post-graduation in Philosophy from the University of Hyderabad, he joined the IAS in 1993.
He has served at Local, State, National and International level in various capacities for over a period of 30 years. In the State Government, he served as District Magistrate, Director of Tribal Welfare, Secretary / Principal Secretary of Health, Finance and Industries & Commerce departments and was deeply involved in tribal development work and rehabilitation of surrendered militants.
During the period of 2004-08, he served in the Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs as Director Japan / North America and Director in the World Bank Division. During period he was in charge of bilateral economic relations, he commenced feasibility studies for Delhi-Kolkata freight corridor, Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and was in charge of financing large projects like Delhi Metro, Bengaluru Metro and Chennai Metro (etc.) from JICA. He was also in charge of India- US Financial and Economic Forum and India-US CEO Forum.
Thereafter, he worked as Advisor to the Executive Director at the World Bank, Washington DC till 2012 and contributed actively in Bank's response to 2008 financial crisis, food crisis and fuel crisis and also the sanctioning of huge development assistance to India during 2008-12. He was also closely involved in G-20, G-24 and G- 11 discussions articulating India's interests and positions.
As Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal from 30th January, 2020 he had opened up coal sector for commercial mining in the country, transforming India from coal deficit to coal surplus country.
He has served on the on the Boards of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, Northern Coal Fields, NLCIL and Coal India.
He was appointed as Secretary Financial Services on 19 August, 2024.
IOD's Distinguished Fellow - 2025
Chanchal Kumar, IAS
Secretary
Ministry of DoNER
Govt. of India
Mr. Chanchal Kumar is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1992 batch from the Bihar cadre and currently serves as the Secretary, Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region, Government of India. He holds a B.Tech (1990) and an M.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering from IIT Kanpur. He also holds a Master's degree in International Development Policy from Duke University and a Ph.D. in Economics.
Mr. Kumar has held several key positions in the Government of Bihar, including District Magistrate of Kaimur, Bokaro, East Champaran, and Nalanda. He has served as Secretary of the Art, Culture and Youth Department; Principal Secretary of the Building Construction Department; Principal Secretary of the General Administration Department; and Principal Secretary in the Chief Minister's Office, Bihar.
At the national level, he has previously served in the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. Prior to his current role, he was the Managing Director of the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd., New Delhi.
IOD's Distinguished Fellow - 2025
Nadir B. Godrej
Chairman & Managing Director
Godrej Industries Limited
Mr. Nadir B. Godrej is the Chairperson of Godrej MIndustries Group; Chairperson and Managing Director of Godrej Industries Limited and Chairman of Godrej Agrovet Ltd. He is also the Co-Chair of Godrej Good & Green Governing Council. He has been a Director of several Godrej companies since 1977 and has developed the animal feed, agricultural inputs and chemicals businesses of Godrej Industries and other associate companies and has been very active in research.
Mr. Godrej is deeply committed to the GOOD and GREEN strategies and achievement of set targets for the Godrej Industries Group. He encourages and supports a shared vision value for all programs of Good and Green.
Mr. Godrej is a recipient of many prestigious awards in the country and overseas including the Hurun award for most respected Indian Industrialist of the Year.
Recently, he was honored with a DSc. (Honoris Causa) by Institute of Chemical Technology and has also received a Doctor of Philosophy in Business Management from XIM University, Bhubaneswar in recognition of his contribution to Industry and Society. In the past, he has been felicitated with 'Green Business Titan' Award for his commitment towards driving sustainability at the Godrej Group, by the JSW The Times of India Earth Care Awards.
His interests are in science, linguistics, swimming and poetry. He is author of "Life and Other Poems" & “Nadir Godrej The Poet” (a collection of English and French poems).
IOD's Distinguished Fellow - 2025
Angelo George
Chief Executive Officer
Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd.
Mr. Angelo George, CEO of Bisleri International, brings over three decades of distinguished leadership experience across renowned organizations such as Hindustan Unilever, EID Parry, and Dabur India. He is a transformational leader and widely respected for his deep market insights, innovation, and brand-building expertise. His strategic vision has consistently driven business growth, new ventures, and enhanced consumer engagement. Under his leadership, Bisleri has achieved record growth, refreshed the brand image, reinforced its market dominance, and expanded its global footprint with an entry into the UAE market.
Mr. George is committed to environmental sustainability and has positioned Bisleri as a socially responsible industry leader. Under his stewardship, Bisleri became one of the first companies in India to achieve plastic-neutral and water-positive status recycling more plastic than it puts into the market and replenishing more water than it extracts. The company has taken the lead in sustainability narrative through its pathbreaking initiatives like 'Responsible Use of Plastic' and 'Water Credits'.
Beyond his corporate role, He contributes actively to the broader business and academic ecosystem. He serves as an Independent Director and is an executive member of CII and ICC committees on Water, as well as the CII National Committee on Food Processing Industries. He is also an Honorary Professor at leading management schools, mentoring future business leaders, and serves on the Advisory Boards of Management Institutes and Universities.
In recognition of his outstanding leadership, he was honoured as one of the Inspiring CEOs at the Economic Times CEO Conclave.
IOD's Distinguished Fellow - 2025
H.E. Abdulla Al Saleh
Undersecretary
Ministry of Economy
UAE
H.E. Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh has held the position of Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy since September 2020. He has 29 years of experience in the federal government, where he worked as a diplomat with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for 13 years. He worked at the UAE Embassy in Washington DC (1993-1998), and the UAE Embassy in Paris (2000-2003) and in other departments at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was assigned to work in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for the period between 1998-2000. He is a board member of the UAE Gender Balance Council, board member of the Emirates Council for Artificial Intelligence and Block- chain, board member of Emirates International Accreditation Centre, and a member of advisory boards for some colleges and universities in the country. He holds a BA in political science from the UAE University (1990), and a master's degree in international politics from the American University in Washington, DC (1997).
IOD's Distinguished Fellow - 2025
H.E. Lt. Gen. Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri
Director General
General Directorate of Residency
and Foreigners Affairs
H.E. Lt. General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri is the Director General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai. He is a prominent and well respected figure in the UAE, renowned for his exceptional leadership and unwavering dedication to public service. With a distinguished career spanning decades, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the policy landscape of Dubai and the UAE. He began his career in 1980 at the Dubai Police Academy, and swiftly moved up the ranks, showcasing his dedication to public service. In 2008, he was appointed Director of the Citizenship and Residency Department in Dubai, where he oversaw significant reforms and innovations. As Director General of Residency and Foreign Affairs in Dubai, he introduced numerous initiatives to enhance public service delivery and attracted investments to improve the quality of life for citizens. Under his dynamic leadership, Dubai Residency gained wide global recognition, achieving numerous awards. He also led initiatives such as the Dubai Work Package, the Unified Residence Application Package, and the Smart Travel Project, which streamlined residency processes and elevated customer experience. His focus on Sustainability, Economic Growth, and Digital Transformation aligns with the UAE's futuristic Vision 2031. He is recognized internationally as one of the most influential and intelligent Arab leaders. His vision to establish Dubai Residency as a global leader in public services underscores his commitment to excellence, innovation, and a customer-centric approach. His visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence have propelled Dubai Residency to new heights.
IOD's Distinguished Fellow - 2025
Puneet Chhatwal
Managing Director & CEO
The Indian Hotels Company Limited
Mr. Puneet Chhatwal is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and has over four decades of leadership experience at highly acclaimed hotel groups in Europe and North America. He also serves as the Chairman of the National Committee of Tourism and Hospitality, CII, and Chairman of Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality (FAITH). Prior to this, He was the CEO and Member of the Executive Board of Steigenberger Hotels AG – Deutsche Hospitality. He was also the Chief Development Officer of The Rezidor Hotel Group – Carlson Hotels Worldwide. Throughout his international career, Mr. Chhatwal has received several acclaimed awards and is the First Alumnus included in the ESSEC-IMHI Hall of Honour 2014. He has been honoured with induction into the prestigious Global Travel Hall of Fame by Travel Weekly UK, Hall of Fame Award at the 39th IATO Annual Convention and Rotary Club of Bombay’s Ramkrishna Bajaj Award for good governance. IHCL stands as a global benchmark in the hospitality industry, with the iconic Taj brand being recognized three times as the World’s Strongest Hotel Brand and as the first Indian hospitality company to surpass a Market Capitalization of ?1 trillion. Under his leadership, IHCL has been honoured with the prestigious Industry Leader JRDQV Award, a coveted recognition in the Tata Group.
IOD's Distinguished Fellow - 2025
Ajay Tyagi IAS (Retd.)
Former Chairman
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
Mr. Ajay Tyagi served as the former Chairman of SEBI. He specialises in the financial sector, and has also worked extensively in the environment and energy sectors. Before joining SEBI, Mr. Tyagi had a career spanning over 33 years in the Indian Administrative Service, where he held several senior positions in the Central and State Governments. He served as an Additional Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, handling diverse areas/subjects like Capital Markets, Investment, Infrastructure Financing, Financial Sector Reforms, Financial Stability Issues, FATF, and Coins & Currency. He was also a Government nominee director on the board of RBI. Previously, he served as a Joint Secretary in the Ministries of Environment & Forests and Petroleum & Natural Gas. He was also Chairman of the Central Pollution Control Board and Secretary of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board. He was a Government nominee director on the board of directors of BPCL and GAIL. He served as Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary in the Departments of Finance, Planning, Industries, and Information Technology for the Government. Presently, Mr. Tyagi serves as an Independent Director on the boards of various organisations such as Larsen & Toubro Limited, Hyundai Motor India Limited, Tata AIG General Insurance Company Limited, Gujarat International Finance Tec-City Company Limited and Bain Capital controlled Novopor Advanced Science Private Limited.
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