Amitabh Kant, former CEO of NITI Aayog and Secretary, DPIIT, has been appointed as Senior Advisor to Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited. Kant, who belongs to a 1980 batch retired IAS officer of Kerala cadre, has enjoyed a distinguished career spanning over four decades in public service and has a proven track record of driving transformative initiatives across India. His extensive expertise in economic development, innovation, and sustainable growth is expected to significantly benefit Fairfax’s long-term investment approach in India, and the industry insights and leadership experience he brings to Fairfax will help Fairfax to continue identifying and executing on opportunities within the region. Kant was a key figure during India’s G20 presidency, culminating in the historic New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration that emphasized digital public infrastructure, climate finance, and multilateral reform, and he has demonstrated an ability to unify diverse stakeholders around common development goals. As CEO of NITI Aayog, he was a driving force behind the Aspirational Districts Programme, which uplifted some of India’s most disadvantaged regions. His tenure as Secretary of the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) saw pivotal reforms including the Make in India and Startup India campaigns, significantly improving Ease of Doing Business rankings by 79 places. Additionally, his work in promoting tourism with the ‘Incredible India’ campaign showcased his keen understanding of the power of cultural and economic integration.