Ford Foundation appoints Pradeep Nair as regional director for India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka

Ford Foundation appoints Pradeep Nair as regional(क्षेत्रीय) director for India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka 

The Ford Foundation on Wednesday appointed Pradeep Nair as regional director for India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. As regional director, Nair will guide the foundation’s operations out of New Delhi. He will assume his new position at the end of March, succeeding David Hulse. “I am delighted (प्रसन्न) to welcome Pradeep to the Ford Foundation. His global experience and leadership(नेतृत्व), and his expertise in building partnerships in the region will be a great asset as our work in South Asia enters a new chapter,” said Darren Walker, president of the Ford Foundation. 

The American philanthropy(लोकोपकार), founded by Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford’s son, came to India on an invite from then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1952 — its first step outside the US. It has donated heavily to IIT-Bombay, Jamia Milia Islamia, Wildlife SOS, Tata Institute of Social Sciences and Aga Khan Foundation for their programmes over the years. 

As India country director of the US-based Institute for Sustainable(सतत) Communities, Nair established the organisation’s India office and was helped build strong relationships with the Indian government, the private sector and NGO communities across Asia.

Nair holds an MBA in finance from Karnataka University, an engineering degree in electronics from Bharathiar University and has also studied filmmaking.