Emcure Pharma strengthens its board; adding Independent Directors with illustrious background

Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd., one of India’s leading pharma players continues to strengthen its leadership with appointment of distinguished professionals to its board of directors. The company has recently added four independent directors with a wealth of knowledge and experience in various fields.

The new additions include Dr. Shailesh Ayyangar, Mr. Vijay Gokhale, Mr. Hitesh Jain and Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar.  Earlier this year, Mr. Berjis Desai had taken over the chairman of Emcure Board. The company has had a long standing tradition of appointing a Chairman from amongst its independent directors since 1997.

Emcure aims to further augment its strengths as one of the fastest growing pharmaceutical companies in India with a global reach of over 70 countries across the world. These additions to the leadership team for Emcure Pharmaceuticals, reflect its commitment towards enriching its expertise and strengthening its operations for future growth. The new members’ collective strength across legal, pharma spectrum, policy developments and academics will provide additional thrust to Emcure’s growth trajectory.

Commenting on the appointments, Mr. Satish Mehta, Managing Director & CEO, Emcure Pharmaceuticals said, “We are delighted to have highly accomplished industry stalwarts as part of our board. New members’ combined experience and wider perspective from their respective fields, will play an instrumental role in strengthening our strategic operations to grow in domestic and international markets. It is an exciting time for the organization, and we look forward to achieving newer heights with our new members on board.”

About the new Chairman and additional board members:

Mr. Berjis Desai Emcure’s Chairman and Independent Director has been associated with Emcure Pharmaceuticals for over three decades. Having practised transactional and dispute resolution laws for the last 37 years, Mr. Desai, retired as the Managing Partner of JSA, a national law firm. A Master of Law (starred first) from the University of Cambridge, he is now an Independent Legal Counsel engaged in Private Client Practice. A former journalist, Mr. Desai is a part time writer and columnist.

Dr. Shailesh Ayyangar appointed as Additional Director comes with an extensive experience of 34 years in healthcare and pharmaceutical. Dr Ayyangar served as Managing Director in his latest stint at Sanofi and was the member of International Leadership Team and Country Chair for India & South Asia. For nearly 18 years, he ran all business interest of the Sanofi Group including Pharmaceuticals, Specialty Care, Vaccines, Animal Health and Consumer Healthcare. Prior to joining Sanofi in 2002, Dr Ayyangar held senior positions for 14 years in SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals and GSK in India and in Great Britain. On the healthcare side, Dr Ayyangar was instrumental in bringing together global and national M&A activities along with building innovative partnerships such as Apollo Sugar Clinics – One of the longest serving Country Chairs in the country and region.

Mr. Vijay Gokhale appointed as Independent Director was in Indian Foreign Service since 1981. Mr. Gokhale’s previous diplomatic assignments includes postings in Hong Kong, Hanoi, Beijing and New York. He has also served as the Deputy Secretary (Finance), Director (China & East Asia) and Joint Secretary (East Asia) during his stints at the Headquarters of the Ministry of External Affairs. His geo-political perspective brings in an additional dimension to the future prospects for Emcure.

Mr. Hitesh Jain, appointed as Independent Director is an alumnus of London School of Economics in 1996. He is the Managing Partner at Parinam Law Associates.  His practice spans 24 years of experience across all branches of litigation and clients from multiple sectors. He has represented clients in the Supreme Court of India, various High Courts in India, district courts (civil, criminal and rent act matters), consumer forums, competition commission and  TDSAT, etc. He has advised clients on a range of issues like international corporate commercial transactions, banking and labour matters along with mergers and acquisitions. He also advises companies for issue and dealing of securities in the primary and secondary market.

Dr Vidya Yeravdekar appointed as Independent Director is the Principal Director of Symbiosis Society, and the Pro Chancellor of Symbiosis International University. Among her various accolades and accomplishments, some include; Chairperson of the FICCI Committee on Higher Education,  Member of India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) Trust set up by Ministry of Commerce & Industries, Govt. of India, Member of the Central Governing Council of Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) set up by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India, among many others.

Dr. Yeravdekar holds a Post Graduate Degree in Medicine, a Degree in Law and Ph.D. in 'Internationalisation of Higher Education in India’.