A global team of seasoned public relations professionals, journalists, bankers, lawyers, academics, entrepreneurs, finance, international affairs and technology experts,
US-India Corridor LLC works throughout the world to meet its clients’ communications needs.
Angela Chitkara
Founder & CEO – New York
After more than a decade as a television journalist, covering business stories in the US, UK, South Africa, Singapore and India, CEO Angela Chitkara founded US-India Corridor in 2008.
Born in the US to Indian parents, her career began at CNBC (US) in 1999, where she started as a News Associate. In 2004, she fulfilled a childhood dream to work as a journalist in India, when she joined CNBC TV 18 as News Editor and Anchor in Mumbai, reporting on global markets. She led daily editorial meetings and set up the first multilingual local and international assignment desks for CNBC in India. This was critical in enabling bureaus around the world to provide viewers with a current and accurate story of an emerging India and its role in the global economy.
Previously, Ms. Chitkara served as a political researcher to the late Louis Rukeyser during the 2000 US Presidential Election and co-produced the 2004 US Presidential Elections from Singapore for CNBC Asia. Other career highlights include the first live coverage of the tsunami in 2004 and the Mumbai blasts in 2006, both for the NBC network globally. In November, 2008, she provided live commentary on MSNBC during the Mumbai attacks.
Angela holds a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University, a Masters in International Journalism from City University in London, UK, and a BA in Communications, Journalism from Seton Hall University. She volunteers with Apne Aap, an NGO for women worldwide. It was recently recognized by the Clinton Global Initiative for its initiative to end global sex trafficking. She also serves as a Media Advisor to the World Music Institute, a not for profit, dedicated to the research, presentation and documentation of the finest in traditional and contemporary music and dance from around the world. And, Pratham USA, one of India’s largest non- profit organizations, to help raising awareness of their Read India Initiative– an ambitious goal to teach 60 million children across India how to read, write, and do basic math.
Steven Chitkara
CFO/Strategic Partner – New York
Steven Chitkara is currently Managing Director at Dunwell Capital LLC, a private equity firm focused on refinancing consumer debt, direct marketing, residential services and the indoor air quality industries. His responsibilities include deal appraisal, managing entrepreneurial ventures from start-up to stage-one financing, and developing commercial based relationships.
He has a background in valuation and marketing of fixed income and equity derivatives, managing money for clients including institutions, foundations and high net worth individuals, as well as experience in starting, growing and selling a diverse range of businesses.
His prior experience includes serving as a financial advisor at Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS), an associate in fixed income derivatives marketing at Barclays Capital and co-founder, CEO & President of B.I. Group Inc., a debit smart card for university students, for which he raised over $1M.
Mr. Chitkara is an honors graduate of Kings College, University of London, holds a Masters in Finance from London Business School and an MBA from Columbia University Business School. While at Kings College, he completed an exchange program in International Business at Georgetown University.
Jean Miller
Managing Director/Social Networking – San Francisco
She recently served as the Global Digital Marketing consultant to EMI Music, where she developed organizational strategy on digital marketing, community and social networking tools. Previously, she was International Initiatives Manager and head of German Market Development for Linden Research Inc., where she developed, managed and executed customer acquisition and retention programs for Second Life, a collaborative, social networking, online virtual world platform, as well as negotiated and managed opportunities in Brazil, Korea, and Singapore.
Earlier in her career, she worked in inter-cultural communication within online virtual communities and also managed relationships for LucasArts, LucasFilm with international distribution partners.
Ms. Miller is a graduate of Georgetown University with a BA in Foreign Service. She is completing a Master of Science in Global Media and Communications and Master of Arts in Global Communication at the London School of Economics, University of Southern California, Annenberg School for Communication.
P N Balji
Managing Director/Media Strategies – Singapore
PN Balji is currently Director Asia Journalism Fellowship and Adjunct Associate Professor Communications at Nanyang Technological University – Singapore
He has more than 35 years of experience in print, TV, radio and online journalism. From 1982 to 1988, he was Deputy Editor of the The Straits Times. He then helped launch The New Paper in 1988 and became the editor in 1990. In late 2000, he launched Today and became its CEO and Editor-in-Chief. Under his leadership, The New Paper crossed the 100,000 mark in copies sold daily. With Today, he made it into a viable product opposite the grand old dame of Singapore journalism, The Straits Times.
He co-hosts Talking Point, a weekly current affairs program on Channel News, and a fortnightly radio program, Beyond The News. Balji is also a guest writer for the theonlinecitizen. Outside Singapore, he was the project leader for the conversion of The New Straits Times from a broadsheet to a tabloid in KL, helped revamp the Indian weekly, The Week, and did a prototype of a 40-page newspaper for women for the Hindustan Times in New Delhi.
Archana Muthappa
Managing Director/Strategic Services – Bangalore
Since 1995, Archana Muthappa has worked extensively as a media and communications consultant with MNC and Indian clients, helping them manage both national and international media. As Head of Media Relations for India at Satyam Computer Services Ltd., the unfolding events of January, 2009, have given Ms. Muthappa real time experience in crisis management. Brand damage was minimized by effective utilization of available information and communicating clearly to all stakeholders – clients, employees and investors.
As a senior executive at Torque Communications and Good Relations, she worked on strategic communications, including identification and management of stakeholders, internal communication and benchmark audits for over 100 clients. She has been instrumental in ensuring the growth of the organization through winning new business, as well as growing and mentoring employee teams. Ms. Muthappa has a Bachelor’s Degree from Mt. Carmel College and Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Mysore University. Ms. Muthappa has a Bachelor’s Degree from Mt. Carmel College and Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Mysore University. She currently resides in Bangalore.
Helen Alexander
Managing Director, Strategic Services/Conference Placements – Mumbai
Helen Alexander has a decade of experience as a journalist. She joined as a news assistant and moved up to become head of the Assignment News Desk, where she managed a team of producers across Europe. She was also the producer for CNBC’s coverage of the World Economic Forum in Davos, G8 and IMF meetings. She moved to India in January 2008 and continues to work on various country specific programs such as the two World Economic Forum televised debates (Arab and Asia Forums). Helen graduated from Royal Holloway College, London University, with a BA Honours in European Studies (languages with European history and economics)
Shiv Putcha
Managing Director/Analyst and Investor Relations – Mumbai
For over 10 years, Mr. Putcha worked as a technology analyst with the Yankee Group and in various strategic marketing roles at Qualcomm. Most recently, he was a member of Qualcomm’s Industry and Investor Analyst Relations team in San Diego and a key resource for all analyst queries. In addition to proactive global outreach, he also organized regular interactions and briefings at major trade shows and Qualcomm analyst days.
He has worked in Brazil, India, China, and Australia, as well as in the Middle East, Europe and the Asia Pacific region and holds a BA in Economics with Honors from University of Delhi and an MBA in Marketing and International Business from Southern Hampshire University.
He is a CFA Level I candidate, fluent in English and Hindi with a working knowledge of Mandarin. Originally from Hyderabad, Mr. Putcha is based in Mumbai.
Kavitha Nair
Managing Director/Strategic Services – London
Kavitha Nair has been a media professional for well over a decade and has worked in both traditional and new media formats.
She brings solid editorial background as a senior business journalist having worked with Financial Express and Business Standard. Kavitha made the switch from journalism to management, overseeing content publishing operations for major media companies in recent years.
She served as an Associate Editor for the B2B custom publishing arm of CyberMedia India Online Ltd (CIOL), the digital arm of CyberMedia, Asia’s largest specialty publishing house.
Kavitha worked on the strategy and operations side for a portfolio of blue chip clients such as IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Cisco, AMD and Project Management Institute India.
Prior to this, Ms Nair was with the PRactice Porter Novelli as a lead consultant for its contract publishing division. She created and managed the content division, developed new business, and managed client relationships such as Qualcomm, IBM, AMD, ADC Krone and Foundry.
Kavitha holds a BA from St Xavier’s College and a Masters degree from the University of Mumbai.