WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — The U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) has named two new members to its board of directors. Uday Shankar, vice chairman of JioStar, and Joseph E. Creed, CEO of Caterpillar Inc., join the board as the organization strengthens its focus on U.S.-India business ties.
The announcement, made Tuesday from USISPF’s Washington headquarters, reflects the deepening commercial and strategic relationship between the United States and India.
Uday Shankar is a well-known figure in India’s media industry. He is the founder director of Bodhi Tree Systems and a former president of The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific. Shankar co-founded Bodhi Tree Systems with James Murdoch in 2020. The platform invests in high-growth companies across media, education, and consumer sectors, with a strong focus on India.
As vice chairman of JioStar—formerly known as Viacom18—Shankar oversees the company’s sports, streaming, and broadcast divisions. He also guides the direction of JioHotstar, one of the world’s largest streaming platforms with over 200 million paying subscribers.
“Uday has built a reputation for innovating legacy media brands,” said USISPF President and CEO Dr. Mukesh Aghi. “He always keeps the Indian consumer at heart.”
Shankar played a key role in shaping the Indian media landscape. He helped launch Aaj Tak, India’s first 24-hour news channel. As CEO of Star India, he expanded the network’s reach to more than 700 million viewers. He also launched Hotstar, India’s pioneering digital streaming platform.
“I am pleased to extend my long-standing association with USISPF,” Shankar said. “India–U.S. ties are more vital than ever. I look forward to helping deepen partnerships in media, technology, and education.”
Joseph E. Creed took over as CEO of Caterpillar Inc. on May 1. He joined the company in 1997 and now leads more than 113,000 employees across 63 countries. As CEO, he focuses on operational excellence, innovation, and sustainable growth.
Creed has held several top roles at Caterpillar, including chief operating officer, chief financial officer of the Energy & Transportation segment, and senior vice president in both the Oil & Gas and Electric Power divisions.
“Joe represents Caterpillar’s global excellence and strong legacy in India,” said Dr. Aghi. “Under his leadership, we will further our mission to strengthen commercial ties between the two nations.”
Creed said he is honored to join the USISPF board. “I look forward to working with global leaders to grow the U.S.-India economic partnership,” he said.
Caterpillar is marking its 100th anniversary in 2025. Creed is leading the company into its second century by embracing new technologies and investing in people, which he calls Caterpillar’s greatest strength.
The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum was created to promote greater economic cooperation between the two countries. The addition of Shankar and Creed to its board signals the organization’s intent to build on its mission through leadership in key industries.
“These appointments are a big step forward,” said USISPF Chairman John Chambers. “Uday brings deep media insight and a sharp grasp of the digital economy. Joe brings decades of experience in global manufacturing and engineering. Both share a commitment to excellence and collaboration.”
Chambers praised their leadership as vital for the forum’s future. “Their expertise will help strengthen the bridge between our two democracies,” he said.
With Shankar’s media and digital expertise and Creed’s manufacturing and infrastructure leadership, USISPF gains fresh perspectives. Their appointments come at a time when the United States and India are working more closely across many sectors, including defense, education, and clean energy.
The forum expects its insights to help shape initiatives that boost bilateral trade, investment, and innovation.
The U.S.-India relationship continues to grow stronger each year. From media to manufacturing, the ties between the two countries are driving new partnerships and opportunities.
