Jaishankar dons corporate mantle : The Tribune India

Join Whatsapp Channel

Jaishankar dons corporate mantle

NEW DELHI: Dr S Jaishankar who retired as Foreign Secretary after an extended three-year term in January will now play a major corporate role.

Jaishankar dons corporate mantle

S Jaishankar



Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 23

Dr S Jaishankar who retired as Foreign Secretary after an extended three-year term in January will now play a major corporate role. Confirming speculation, Tata Sons on Monday announced his appointment as president, Global Corporate Affairs.

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

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

As per the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) 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 Modi’s confidence as a key architect in the Prime Minister’s relations with US Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump. He was central to negotiations in Delhi and Beijing during the 21-day Depsang stand-off and 73-day Doklam confrontation between the Indian and Chinese militaries.

“In his new role, he will be responsible for the Tata group’s global corporate affairs and international strategy development and Tata Sons’ international offices will report to him. Dr Jaishankar will work with Tata companies to help them strengthen their business presence and positioning in their respective geographies globally,” said the company.

Aside from key career assignments, Jaishankar also served as High Commissioner to Singapore and Ambassador to China and US prior to appointment as Foreign Secretary in January 2015.

Speculation was on though if he would be accommodated in some special envoy’s role in the Prime Minister’s Office post retirement. “I look forward to being part of the Tata group and working with key stakeholders to make an impact,” Dr Jaishankar was quoted as saying by the group.

While some former bureaucrats have taken up private commercial jobs, most retired Foreign Secretaries in recent years have chosen the academic and think-tank world options. Jaishankar was also on a fellowship with National University of Singapore last few months.

Top News

Cash-strapped Congress gets fresh IT notice of Rs 1,700 crore, say party insiders

Cash-strapped Congress gets fresh I-T notice of Rs 1,800 crore

Ajay Maken addresses a press conference

Special court convicts 7 people in BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case

Special court convicts 7 people in BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case

The proceedings against Atiq Ahmad, his brother and prime ac...

Arvind Kejriwal's wife releases WhatsApp number for people to send messages for jailed AAP leader

Arvind Kejriwal's wife launches WhatsApp campaign to garner support for AAP leader

In a digital media briefing, Sunita says her husband has cha...

Alka Rai, widow BJP MLA killed by Mukhtar Ansari, says 'justice has been served', visits Ram Mandir

Alka Rai, widow BJP MLA killed by Mukhtar Ansari, says 'justice has been served', visits Ram Mandir

Alka Rai is the wife of MLA Krishanand Rai, who was shot dea...


Cities

View All