New Delhi: Ipsos has promoted Umesh Thawani to General Counsel, Ipsos APEC (Asia Pacific excluding China) with immediate effect. He now reports to Sheryl Goodman, Group Counsel and General Counsel, Americas, Ipsos Legal. He will be overseeing legal duties for 12 Ipsos APEC markets.
Thawani earlier led the legal function for Ipsos India.
Sheryl Goodman, Group General Counsel and General Counsel, Americas, Ipsos Legal, commenting on the development, said, “Thawani possesses excellent interpersonal skills and his industry experience, coupled with his strong finance and legal background,make him an excellent partner for the business and support functions, in his new role.”
“Further, over and above his India role, Thawani had for some time been playing an instrumental role in keeping things running smoothly within the Legal department, for the APEC Region, “added Goodman.
“The role of Legal in market research is extremely crucial as legal provides counsel on a wide array of contracts with clients across govt, public sector, CPG, among others. They also draft client and supplier agreements factoring in nuances which are transparent and win-win for both parties. Respondent privacy, data protection, intellectual property and employment are some of the other key areas covered under the ambit of legal. I would like to laud Thawani for his great contribution to the Ipsos India business and look forward to his continued involvement in providing counsel,” said Amit Adarkar, CEO, Ipsos India.
“Thawani’s successor for Ipsos India will be joining soon,” added Adarkar.
“It is great to be considered for the key regional role and I look forward to serving each market to the best of my abilities,” said Thawani.
He will continue to be based out of India.
Thawani has over 20 years of work experience across different streams of Legal, Corporate Secretarial, Direct/ Indirect Taxation and Finance. At Ipsos, in the last 10 years he’s donned different hats – first as a member of the finance team and then in 2016, he transitioned fully into the Legal department.