Executive Director, Public Affairs & Strategic Engagements, Cisco Systems, India & SAARC

As the Executive Director, Public Affairs & Strategic Engagements, Harish leads Cisco’s strategic engagement with National and State Governments of India on wide range of policy issues that concerns Cisco in India - as an investor, globalization hub, business unit and as a corporate citizen.  One of Harish’s key focus is to align Cisco with India’s National priorities. Harish manages the operation of Cisco’s India External Advisory Board which has oversight on transformational project ,strategic issues and investment decisions on a 3-5 year horizon. Harish is based in New Delhi, India and is with Cisco since May 2007.

An industry veteran of over 23 years, Harish actively participates in public policy forums in India and is the Chairman of CII’s  group on Broadband , Co-Chair of USIBC’s digital task force, Executive Council Member of the Manufacturing Association of Information Technology, Co-chair of Corporate Social Responsibility committee of American Chamber of Commerce in India. Harish is also the co-founder of Public Affairs Forum of India.

From 2003 to 2007, Harish was an Executive in the Governmental Program function of IBM specially focused providing leadership to IBM’s policy engagement with the Government of India on Innovation, Global Resourcing & HR issues.

Prior to joining IBM, Harish worked for over 11 years with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) – India’s Premier Industry organization in a variety of roles. In his last role as CII’s Director for Information Technology, Harish worked with  top CEOs of corporate India on issues affecting the IT& BPO industry.