MUMBAI: NASSCOM Foundation (NF), the social development arm of NASSCOM, India’s premier Information Technology (IT) industry body, announced the appointment of Ms. Rita Soni as its CEO.

Rita will strengthen the efforts of the IT Industry towards inclusive growth, build strategic relationships and establish effective linkages between industry, government to contribute to the cause of social development. She will also create innovative, effective and scalable programs that leverage ICTs for Education, Health, Employability and Entrepreneurship for under-served communities. She would be orchestrating and catalyzing, through NF the efforts of the IT industry at promoting inclusive growth. As part of this, she will further enhance relationships between NASSCOM members and NF in all its endeavors including programs and fund-raising.

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“It is a pleasure to be extended this opportunity. NASSCOM Foundation is at a very exciting stage of development. It has contributed significantly to society and served as a role model on how an industry as a whole can contribute towards inclusive growth. I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to drive NASSCOM Foundation towards creating a much higher and deeper impact on India’s development” said Rita on the appointment.

Rita was born and raised in the US and has come to India to work towards inclusive development. She has 17 years of diverse experience in the private and non-profit sectors. Her last position was as Country Head- Responsible Banking at YES BANK. In this important leadership position, Rita spearheaded a pioneering business approach to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability and was part of the core team that offered innovative financial solutions to address a wide spectrum of issues regarding sustainable livelihoods, food security, public health, education & climate change.

Prior to joining YES BANK, she was with the American India Foundation (AIF) heading Communications & Advocacy for the India operations.

Earlier, Rita was a founding team member of the International Fellowships Program (IFP) at Ford Foundation and focused on worldwide affirmative action for communities excluded from higher education. She embarked upon her professional journey with General Electric, moving from an engineering management training program, to the Corporate Audit Staff followed by operations and finance at NBC.

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Rita is a Master of International Affairs (MIA) from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) in New York City and a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering with Honours from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey.

NASSCOM Foundation

NASSCOM Foundation (NF) was established to leverage information and communication technologies (ICT) to empower and transform the lives of the underserved. NASSCOM and its over 1200 member-companies from the IT industry are committed to social development through the application of ICT. NF today has the unique opportunity of leading the IT Industry towards changing the social development landscape of India.

NASSCOM Foundation is a charity registered under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 and under Section 12A of Income Tax Act. NF is the social development arm of NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Service Companies), the internationally recognized trade body of the Indian IT industry. org