Obama appoints top Indian-American CEO as trade policy advisor

President Barack Obama has appointed Ajay Banga, the Indian-American CEO of MasterCard, to a key post and will advise the US administration over policies related to international trade matters.
Banga - also the chairman of US-India Business Council representing over 300 of the largest global companies investing in India - was appointed member of the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations, the White House said.
He was among a number of key appointments announced by the White House.
"The talent and expertise these individuals bring to their roles will serve our nation well. I am grateful for their service, and look forward to working with them," Obama said yesterday.

The Obama Administration has currently over two dozen Indian-Americans at key posts.
According to the White House, the advisory committee will provide policy advice on trade matters, and is made up of members who broadly represent key sectors and groups of the economy.

Banga, who was in India last month as part of Obama's historic visit to New Delhi, had spoken about taxation and intellectual property rights as some "basic starting point impediments" for US businesses in India.
The MBA alumnus from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, has been the president and CEO of payments solutions giant MasterCard since 2009.

Earlier, he held senior management roles with Citigroup from 1996 until his departure in 2009, when he served as CEO of Citigroup Asia Pacific.
He served as the Director for Marketing and Business Development at PepsiCo Restaurants International India from 1994 to 1996.
Banga, who graduated from Delhi University's St Stephen's College, began his career at Nestle India, where he served in various sales and management roles from 1981 to 1994.
He is a member of the Board of Directors of MasterCard and The Dow Chemical Company.