By Arun Kumar
Washington, Dec 8 (IANS) Steven Wisch, founder and managing director of IREO and India Equity Partners (IEP), has been elected to the board of directors of the US-India Business Council (USIBC), a trade association seeking stronger commercial ties with India.

As a board member, Wisch will help the USIBC provide strategic direction for the US and Indian companies seeking bilateral investment opportunities and partnerships, the advocacy group said announcing Wisch’s election Tuesday.

“With the clouds of the global recession receding, and as India’s real estate sector emerges, the appointment of Steven Wisch to the USIBC board represents the increased focus that the Council is placing on real estate development,” said USIBC Chairperson Indra Nooyi, India-born CEO of Pepsico.

“Steven brings a wealth of insight and knowledge of the industry to the Board and will be asked to play a leadership role in strengthening the Council’s advocacy pertaining to the real estate sector.”

“As a USIBC board member, I look forward to assisting Indian and US companies work together across a wide range of sectors,” said Wisch. “On behalf of IREO (Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Organization) and IEP, I am excited about collaborating with my Indian and US colleagues to enhance investment flows that benefit both nations.”

IREO is the first organised foreign fund involved in Indian real estate development focused on constructing a world-class portfolio of residential, commercial, retail and hospitality properties and has been a Chairman’s Circle member of the USIBC since 2006.

Wisch is also a co-founder and managing partner of India Equity Partners, a long-term, growth-oriented Indian private equity fund. Prior to founding IREO and IEP, Wisch was a partner and managing director at Goldman Sachs where he worked for a total of 17 years in various areas, including corporate finance, M&A, executive administration, equity capital markets, including five years running Asian Equity Capital Markets in Hong Kong, and investment management.

In addition, Wisch served as the Chief Operating Officer of 9/11 United Services Group, a not-for-profit organisation that coordinated the more than $3 billion that was raised by charities to assist the victims of the terrorists attacks on Sep 11, 2001.

He serves on the boards of SEACOR Holdings, Inc. and Hudson’s Companies and is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Wisch received an MBA from Harvard Business School and an AB from Stanford University.