Pradeep Nair named Ford Foundation regional director

Pradeep Nair, a seasoned public and private sector leader, will be the Ford Foundation's regional director for its recently registered branch office in New Delhi serving India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
As regional director, Nair will lead the global non-profit grant-making organisation's operations in New Delhi, serving the three countries. He will assume his new position at the end of March, succeeding Indonesia-based David Hulse, who since November 2015 has served as interim director.
Ford Foundation President Darren Walker said Nair's global experience and leadership and his expertise in building partnerships in the region will be a "great asset" as the foundation's work in South Asia enters a new chapter and in its work to help address some of the region's most important opportunities and challenges.

Earlier, as director of President Bill Clinton's Climate Initiative in India, Nair helped to grow the regional chapter of the global cities network, chaired by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
He also had previously served as the India country director of the US-based Institute for Sustainable Communities, where he established the organisation's India office and was instrumental in forming strong relationships with the government of India, the private sector, and NGO communities across Asia, the organisation said in a statement.
Following a period of renewal, he assumes leadership over a revised programme focus that represents a fresh start for the foundation and its recently registered branch office, the statement said.

The foundation said Nair has also helped to foster the first investments in clean energy by India's large state governments, and advised national government agencies on key health and environmental policies.