In an endeavor to strengthen its fast growing global footprint, Wadhwani Foundation today announced the appointment of Suman Sasmal, Managing Director - India and Asia, Javier Campos, Managing Director - Latin America and Varsy Wanjau, Managing Director - East Africa. This further shores up the highly skilled and experienced global management team at the Foundation and reaffirms its global job creation strategy led through entrepreneurship, innovation and skills development initiatives.
This strategic hiring aligns with the Wadhwani Foundation's mission of accelerating economic development in emerging economies. The Foundation is present in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Bangladesh in Asia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopiain East Africa and soon in Mexico, Chile, Columbia and Peru in Latin America. In each of these countries the Foundation is forging partnerships with governments, educational institutes, corporates, mentors / investors networks, associations, to create entrepreneurial and skilling eco-systems by sharing IP, resources and experiences from its journey in India. It has plans to expand to 15-20 more countries in Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America, by 2020.
Emphasizing on the strategic importance of these hires, Dr. Ajay Kela, President and CEO, Wadhwani Foundation said, "The Foundation has developed a tried and tested model for job creation and job fulfillment in India, and is now rapidly scaling operations in multiple emerging economies. Leveraging technology, building capacity networks and establishing government partnerships form the cornerstone of this expansion strategy.
Having tested this expansion model in Malaysia and Indonesia earlier, the Foundation is now launching its initiatives in multiple countries in East Africa, Latin America and Asia. To achieve these objectives, the Wadhwani Foundation is pleased to have on board three seasoned professionals, Suman Sasmal, Javier Campos and Varsy Wanjau to head India & Asia, Latin America and East Africa regions respectively. With their years of experience managing businesses and technology, the Foundation hopes to accelerate scaling and accessibility of its entrepreneurship and skilling initiatives, globally".
"After spending years in the technology sector, this exciting opportunity to work with the Wadhwani Foundation caters to a long unfulfilled dream of contributing to the society and providing high-value jobs to millions, by amplifying human potential. I am grateful to be part of a movement that has a laser sharp focus on outcome of high-value jobs providing family supporting wages for 25 million by 2022", says Suman Sasmal, Managing Director,India and Asia, Wadhwani
As Managing Director, India and Asia of Wadhwani Foundation, Suman Sasmal will be responsible for all product development and deployment across most Wadhwani Foundation initiatives, including NEN, SDN, OND,in India and South East Asia. With a successful career in the IT services industry spanning almost three decades, Suman has a unique track record of working across multiple roles and geographies. Prior to joining Wadhwani Foundation, Suman had worked with Infosys as Global Head of Delivery for Healthcare, Insurance and Life Sciences and Head of the Infosys Development Centre at Bangalore.
Expressing happiness on joining the Foundation, Javier Campos, Managing Director, Latin America, Wadhwani Foundation said, "Early in my career, I questioned myself as to why I had been given the opportunity to learn and grow both personally and professionally, helping global organizations to expand around the world. Now, I've learnt that it all comes down to serve a greater purpose: To give back to society. Joining the Wadhwani Foundation to lead and deploy its mission of accelerating economic development through large-scale job creation in Latin America will allow me put all my experience, knowledge, passion and energy to fulfil this noble purpose"
Javier Campos as the Managing Director, Latin America will be based in Mexico City and will be responsible for the Foundation's Latin America Operations. With over 20 years of a successful career across markets and industries in Europe and Latin America, Javier's entrepreneurial spirit, business development strategic thinking and global deployment experience led to germination and expansion of several start-ups and new divisions of global organizations. Prior to joining Wadhwani Foundation, Javier was the Vice President of the International Division of USS, where he was instrumental in the development and implementation of the international growth for the company. Previously, as the Managing Director of Stanley Security Mexico, Javier was instrumental in launching the company in the region and establish it as a strong player in the market. Javier started his career at Schneider Electric, where he took various management roles in Latin America, Europe and the Middle East to create growth strategies focused on Industrial, Aerospace and Defence markets.
Elated by his new role, Varsy Wanjau, Managing Director, East Africa, Wadhwani Foundation, said "I am excited and enthused to be deploying Wadhwani Foundation's skilling and entrepreneurship-led initiatives in East Africa starting with Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Tanzania. The Foundation has made phenomenal impact in India and taken significant strides in other markets like Malaysia and Indonesia and I will be looking replicate this success in East Africa. For over 15 years I have turned around several corporations under challenging circumstances and I am now honoured to be part of the Foundation's job-creation endeavors."
Varsy Wanjau, Managing Director, East Africa is based in Kenya and will be responsible for building and leading operations and managing business partnerships with the Government, Academia and Industry. With over 15 years of experience in customer service and administration, Varsy will also be responsible for building a strong bonded community of beneficiaries (start-ups, SMEs and skilled personnel) and partners (mentors, investors, associations, corporates, academic institutions, government officials). Prior to joining Wadhwani Foundation, Varsy worked with Rapidol Pty Ltd, South Africa as the Country Manager and other organizations like Ceva Sante Animale France, Nestle' Kenya Ltd., HACO Industries BIC France Alberto Culver USA; East and Central Africa and Procter & Gamble East Africa.