NE NEWS SERVICE
WASHINGTON, JULY 27
Indian American Manisha Bharti was named as the first Chief Executive Officer of Pratham USA and Global Executive. Pratham is one of India’s largest and most respected education NGOs. Her post takes effect in September.
“There is such a need for the kind of grassroots, high-quality education Pratham provides with its community-based and digital platforms that are increasingly global in scope,” Bharti said in a statement. “I’m excited and humbled by this opportunity to help shepherd and co-author Pratham’s next chapter. I look forward to working with the global team to deepen Pratham’s impact in India and share its learnings to improve education around the world.”
Can't wait to introduce this great organization to all of you who may not yet know what it is all about. @Pratham_India @prathamusa https://t.co/TMt2LLQsEB
— Manisha Bharti (@mbharti1234) July 25, 2021
Bharti brings more than 25 years of professional experience in global development, having held senior leadership positions at FHI 360 and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The Indian American executive is currently chief of strategy and programs at GHR Foundation, one of Minnesota’s largest philanthropic organizations, where she oversees a grant portfolio within health, education and international development, the Pratham news release said.
In recent years, Pratham has undergone tremendous growth, witnessing increased acclaim and demand for its expertise in India and internationally.
“The position of Chief Executive Officer and Global Executive has been established to unify Pratham’s business development, strategy and communications,” Deepak Raj, chairman of Pratham USA, said in a statement.
“Manisha’s appointment marks a significant commitment by the organization to strengthen our U.S. chapters while enhancing our brand globally and improving alignment across regions,” Raj added.
“Manisha is ideally suited for this role,” added Madhav Chavan, co-founder and president of Pratham. “Throughout her career, she has driven change, scaled organizations and displayed a talent for bringing people together—invaluable assets for helping shape Pratham’s future.”
Pratham CEO Dr. Rukmini Banerji echoed the enthusiasm.
“We are delighted to have someone of Manisha’s caliber joining us at this pivotal moment for our organization. Our India and U.S. teams have always worked very closely with one another, but this was particularly true during COVID,” Banerji said in a statement.
“Together, we can go from strength to strength while at the same time supporting the growth of our international work. With her background and experience, Manisha will be an integral part of this next phase of Pratham,” Banerji said.
Executive Director Bala Venkatachalam will remain in his position until the transition is complete, at which time he will assume a new global role within the organization, according to sources.
