By Arun Kumar, IANS
Washington : A top US lobbying firm headed by former defence secretary William S. Cohen has announced an expansion of its India practice with the addition of Ingrid Belton Henick, an India expert.
Henick, who joins the firm as a vice president this month, “adds significantly to the considerable expertise our team already has regarding India”, said Cohen. “Her depth of experience will help us provide maximum support to our clients in India and around the world.”
Henick’s addition broadens The Cohen Group’s India practice and the firm’s overall international capabilities, a company announcement said.
With Henick’s arrival, The Cohen Group further strengthens its offering of experience, expertise, and relationships to help clients doing business in India and for Indian firms seeking to expand their opportunities in the US and elsewhere in the world, it said.
Cohen, a board member of the US-India Business Council (USIBC), and General Paul Kern, senior counsellor of The Cohen Group, will lead the USIBC Defence Mission to the Defence Expo in New Delhi, Feb 16-19.
The Cohen Group actively represents top-tier companies worldwide to help them achieve their commercial objectives in India, China, and many other overseas markets, the company said.
Prior to joining The Cohen Group, Henick was vice president at Barbour Griffith & Rogers, where she helped lead that firm’s India practice, including representation of the government of India.
Previously, she served as senior vice president for business development at MphasiS Corporation, a leading Indian business process outsourcing and information technology company. From 2001-2004, she served as deputy executive director for USIBC.
The Cohen Group’s India practice has the experience and expertise to achieve success in the Indian market, the company said. It is working to assist clients in achieving their commercial objectives in India through strategies tailored to government, business and media.
It is also consulting for leading Indian companies to help them achieve their targeted business goals in India, the US and elsewhere, as well as supporting the partnership objectives of US and Indian firms.
Cohen has been engaged in US-Indian relations since he was elected to Congress in 1972. As secretary of defence, he maintained direct dialogue with senior Indian officials in order to build a stronger bilateral strategic and security relationship.
Since entering the private sector, Cohen has continued to support the development of this partnership, seen most recently through his leading role promoting the US-India civilian nuclear initiative. In November 2006, he was elected to the USIBC board of directors.
Cohen has visited India numerous times and has led several USIBC delegations, most recently to the Bangalore Air Show in February 2007. On each visit he has met senior government officials, leaders of Indian industry, and members of the Indian media.
Cohen and the TCG team have organised and participated in numerous meetings worldwide with the highest level of officials in the Indian government, the company profile said.