Month: May 2021

** Roland Bouchara appointed CEO and MD for Stellantis in India

Stellantis India and Asia Pacific has announced key leadership appointments for operations in the region. Roland Bouchara has been appointed to the role of CEO and managing director for Stellantis in India, while Dr Partha Datta has assumed responsibility for engineering, design, R&D operations across the India and Asia Pacific region.

Bouchara, who had headed Citroen’s India operations as senior vice president of sales and marketing since 2017, will take full responsibility for the Jeep and Citroen brands, and for the Group’s manufacturing operations in the country.

** World-renowned infectious disease expert Dr Rajendra Kapila dies at 81 of Covid-19

Dr Kapila and his wife Dr Deepti Saxena Kapila had got both the doses of the Pfizer vaccine in the US. The couple had returned to India in March and stayed in Ghaziabad.

Dr Rajendra Kapila, a world-renowned infectious disease expert, succumbed to the coronavirus in New Delhi on April 28, it has emerged. The Rutgers University professor, known for his extensive works on HIV-AIDS, was 81 years of age, reported the Hindustan Times.

** Global task force of CEOs of 40 US companies launch immediate aid to India

The Global Task Force on Pandemic Response, whose steering committee members include Julie Sweet, CEO, Accenture; Andy Jassy, CEO, Amazon; Tim Cook, CEO, Apple; Brian Moynihan, Chairman of the Board and CEO, Bank of America; Raj Subramaniam, president FedEx; and Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO, IBM; also announced creation of Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) India Action Group to provide ideas and practical information to CHROs to help their people in India.

** This woman-run startup uses crop residue to create bio-batteries

Solving three problems at once, Odisha startup Nexus Power uses crop remnants to create bio-organic, fast-charging batteries for electric vehicles.

An old Biochemistry book from their grandfather’s library was the inspiration for Odisha-born sisters Nikita and Nishita Baliarsingh to create an electric vehicle (EV) battery from crop residue. 

Odisha

** Natco gets CDSCO nod for emergency use of Baricitinib tablets for COVID-19 treatment

Baricitinib in combination with Remdesivir, is used for treatment of COVID-19 positive patients, the Natco Pharma said

Drugmaker Natco Pharma has received emergency use approval for Baricitinib tablets, 1 mg, 2 mg and 4 mg strengths, from Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) in India.