Former Foreign Secy Jaishankar is Tata Group’s Global Corporate Affairs head

Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 23

Tata Sons on Monday announced the appointment of former Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar as Tata Group’s president, Global Corporate Affairs.

Confirming speculations, Tata Sons announced his appointment.

“Dr Jaishankar will report to N Chandrasekaran, executive chairman of Tata Sons in his new role,” informed the company in a formal release.

A 1977 batch IFS (Indian Foreign Service) diplomat, Jaishankar worked closely with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on foreign policy and security issues in the Modi government.

As per DoPT (Department of Personnel and Training) norms, a retired officer of Central Service Group A cannot accept any commercial employment before the expiry of two years from the date of retirement without prior sanction of the President.

The cooling off period was relaxed for Jaishankar whose term as Foreign Secretary was extended by a year in 2017 just days before his retirement.

He was known to enjoy Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s confidence as a key architect in his relations with US Presidents Barack Obama and incumbent Donald Trump.

He was central to negotiations in Delhi and Beijing during the 21-day Depsang standoff and 73-day Doklam confrontation between the Indian and Chinese militaries.