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WRI India Welcomes Dr. Nitin Pandit as First Managing Director

STATEMENT - February 21, 2014

MUMBAI – WRI India is pleased to announce that Dr. Nitin Pandit has been appointed as its first Managing Director, based in Mumbai. Pandit will direct WRI India’s program priorities and growth strategy. He will supervise WRI India’s staff in Mumbai, Bangalore, and Delhi, and work closely with its partners in government, business, civil society and academia. Pandit will be a member of the World Resources Institute (WRI) global management team and will provide critical input on the Institute’s overall strategy and projects.

“We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Pandit to this important position. He brings a deep breadth of experience and will drive WRI India’s strategy to support sustainable and equitable growth in India,” said Jamshyd Godrej, WRI India Chairman, WRI Board Member, and Chairman and Managing Director, Godrej & Boyce Mfg Co. Ltd. “India is facing many important challenges in the coming decades to deliver low-carbon energy, smart cities, and clean water. Dr. Pandit brings the experience and vision needed to position WRI India as a trusted partner in advancing these goals.”

WRI India, which was established as an independent organization in 2011, works with officials in local and national governments, business, and civil society to address India’s development challenges. Its staff uses independent research and analysis to identify solutions that are both economically and environmentally sound. It is inspired by WRI, a global research organization, to address environmental and human development challenges facing India.

“I am deeply honored to be taking this position at this critical moment when India faces urgent challenges and opportunities,” said Dr. Pandit. “I look forward to building on WRI’s reputation for convening thought leaders and using evidence to advance opportunities to improve peoples’ lives and reduce human impact on the environment. I am thrilled to be joining WRI India’s talented staff and our partners around the world to deliver the best responses to India’s emerging development needs.”

Dr. Pandit brings deep experience in both the private and non-profit sectors. Previously, he served as President of the International Institute for Energy Conservation (IIEC), where he was responsible for offices in the United States, UK, India, Thailand, Philippines, South Africa, China and Brazil. During his 13-year tenure, Dr. Pandit introduced several innovative sustainable energy programs in emerging and developing countries.

Before IIEC, Dr. Pandit spent ten years as President of ENSYS, a renewable energy and intelligence systems provider he founded, serving markets in several countries. He has also specialized in the application of high-tech artificial intelligence techniques for environmental problem-solving and worked on water resource development and geotechnical construction.

“Dr. Pandit brings tremendous experience working in India and around the globe on today’s top sustainability issues. We are excited for him to lead WRI India’s work and play an important role in WRI’s senior leadership,” said Dr. Andrew Steer, President and CEO, WRI. “Economic growth is bringing opportunities for millions of people, but also new pressures on natural resources. India is one of the most important countries when it comes to finding a development pathway that helps bring more people out of poverty in a sustainable way. Pandit and his team will provide renewed energy and leadership in tackling these challenges.”

WRI India is registered as the India Resources Trust, an Indian welfare and charitable trust. From its offices in Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi, WRI India works on its mission to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations WRI India is governed by the India Resources Trust trustees with assistance from an International Advisory Council.

WRI India is associated with the World Resources Institute which also has offices in the U.S., China, Brazil, Europe and works in over 50 countries around the world.

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