Dr. Sameer Sharma (PhD, D. Litt), IAS (Retd.)

Hon. Chairman, Institute of Directors, Hyderabad Region, former Chief Secretary, Andhra Pradesh and former Director General, Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs

Dr. Sameer Sharma is currently the Honorary Chairman of the Institute of Directors, Hyderabad region. With a background in economics and a PhD in Development Studies, Dr. Sharma brings a blend of academic expertise and practical insight to his role. He is a seasoned professional who has served in various capacities within the realm of sustainable development, including roles at international organizations, research institutions, and governmental bodies. He served on the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Advisory Committee, Business and Human Rights (BHR) Committee set up by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, and the Fresh Start Committee set up by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI). His expertise spans areas such as poverty alleviation, environmental sustainability, corporate insolvency, CSR, BHR, Independent Directors, and inclusive economic growth. He practiced corporate governance and served as Chairman & Managing Director of APCO, a State Cooperative Company, and Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), a Public Sector Unit under the Government of India. As Director General and CEO of the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs, a think tank under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, he turned around a loss-making organization into a profitable entity by 2021. He initiated the Graduate Insolvency Programme (GIP) to train professionals for India's emerging insolvency ecosystem and established a portal for registration and capacity building of independent directors. He was Head of Indian delegation to BHR Negotiations, Geneva and designed the RBC for companies, as part of ESG.