Alliance Names Wang Shi and R. Venkataramanan to Leadership Council
Washington, DC (September 29, 2015) – The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves is pleased to announce the addition of two members to its Leadership Council. Chinese entrepreneur Wang Shi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of China Vanke, and R. Venkataramanan, Executive Trustee of Tata Trusts, will join an existing group of global leaders working to change the way much of the developing world cooks.
“We are thrilled to bring two clean cooking champions from our largest focus countries onto the Leadership Council,” said Radha Muthiah, CEO of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves. “Their experience from the private sector and their dedication to scaling energy access solutions will play a critical role in helping the Alliance achieve our goal of creating a thriving global market for clean and efficient cookstoves and fuels.”
Wang Shi founded China Vanke Co., Ltd in 1984 and now is the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Under his leadership, Vanke has grown into the world’s largest residential home developer and is China’s pioneer in green home construction. Wang Shi has also taken on the charge of promoting environmental protection from the business perspective in China. Since 2009, he has led the delegation of China’s Private Sector to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference three times. His company, Vanke, also led the establishment of the China pavilion in the United Nations Climate Change Conference, providing a platform for the Chinese government and enterprises to share their experiences in environmental protection and communicate with international counterparts.
“The Alliance has made great strides in building a market for clean and efficient cookstoves and fuels. I am excited to help champion their efforts to reduce household air pollution, a particularly significant health challenge for women and children in the developing world,” said Wang Shi on joining the Leadership Council. “Also, as an entrepreneur, I support the Alliance’s market-based approach and its strategy to boost entrepreneurship and inclusive, sustainable growth in the cookstoves and fuels sector.”
R. Venkataramanan is the Executive Trustee of Tata Trusts and is responsible for the operations, oversight, and coordination between the various Trusts. He has over 20 years of experience in the areas of finance business support and strategy. Prior to his current assignment, he was Executive Assistant to Mr. Ratan N. Tata, who served as the Chairman of Sons Limited, the holding company of the Tata Group. The Tata Trusts seek to catalyze development through their support for natural resource management, sustainable livelihoods, education, health and culture.
“One million premature deaths occur in India each year because of household air pollution from cooking,” said Venkataramanan. “Our extensive experience of working with rural communities helps in building markets and systems for adoption of clean cooking products and practices. The Trusts are excited to partner with the Alliance towards a common goal of promoting clean cooking practices by fostering an innovative and affordable technology-led ecosystem.”
The Alliance’s Leadership Council includes global leaders that are committed to championing a global market for clean cooking as a means of enabling sustainable development and environmental protection. The Alliance also benefits from the guidance and experience of its Advisory Council members, who represent incredible expertise from across the public, private, and NGO sectors.