Kiran Karnik
Encyclopedia
Kiran Karnik is a prominent figure and guiding force behind the Indian outsourcing industry. He has formerly been the president of NASSCOM (The National Association of Software and Services Companies), and is now one of its trustees. Mr. Karnik has recently been selected as one of three boards members as well as Chairman of Satyam Computer Services after Government of India disbanded the Satyam board owing to severe irregularities and fraud in accounting.
Kiran Karnik, took up the position of President of NASSCOM
in September 2001. As the chief executive of the apex body representing India’s IT software and service industry, he works very closely with the industry, the Indian Central & State governments to formulate policies and strategies for the advancement of this sector locally as well as internationally. One of his key functions is to build global brand equity
for the Indian software and service Industry and aligning NASSCOM to be a more corporatized organization to fulfill the industry’s objectives.
Prior to joining NASSCOM, Mr. Karnik was the Managing Director at Discovery Networks in India from 1995 - 2001. He spearheaded the launch of Discovery Channel
in South Asia in August 1995 and Animal Planet
in 1999.
Mr. Karnik worked for over 20 years in the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). He held various positions related to the conception, planning and implementation of applications of space technology, focusing especially on the use of communications for development. He was deeply involved in the conception and, for many years, overseeing the Kheda Communications Project. This pioneering effort won wide national and international acclaim, including the first UNESCO
-IPDC
Prize for rural Communication. Karnik was a key member of the management team for the India – USA Satellite Instructional TV Experiment (SITE), the first every large scale use of satellite direct broadcasting (1975-76), which took education and development to remote parts of rural India. In 1998, Mr. Karnik was awarded the Frank Malina medal for Space Education by the International Astronautical Federation
. From 1983 to 1991, Mr. Karnik held the position as Director of the Development and Educational Communicational Unit.
In 1991, Mr. Karnik joined the Consortium for Educational Communication (CEC) as its first Director. CEC is the apex body set up by University Grants Commission to co-ordinate and oversee the functioning of media centres in the universities, and is responsible for ensuring the production and transmission of educational TV programmes for college students.
Mr. Karnik has worked briefly with the United Nations
in New York and Vienna, serving as Special Assistant to the Secretary-General of UNISPACE 82. He has done an extended consulting assignment for UNESCO in Afghanistan
, and has also been a consultant for World Health Organization
, The World Bank, UN Institute for Disarmament Research and the Ford Foundation
. He has been involved with many committees of the government, including the Prasar Bharati Review Committee.
Karnik has authored/edited a large number of publications, and lectures occasionally at major national institutes. His educational background includes an Honours degree in Physics from Bombay University, followed by post-graduation from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.
Kiran Karnik, took up the position of President of NASSCOM
NASSCOM
The National Association of Software and Services Companies of IT software and services related activities for use of both the software developers as well as interested companies overseas....
in September 2001. As the chief executive of the apex body representing India’s IT software and service industry, he works very closely with the industry, the Indian Central & State governments to formulate policies and strategies for the advancement of this sector locally as well as internationally. One of his key functions is to build global brand equity
Brand equity
Brand equity is the marketing effects and outcomes that accrue to a product with its brand name compared with those that would accrue if the same product did not have the brand name. Fact of the well-known brand name is that, the company can sometimes charge premium prices from the consumer . And,...
for the Indian software and service Industry and aligning NASSCOM to be a more corporatized organization to fulfill the industry’s objectives.
Prior to joining NASSCOM, Mr. Karnik was the Managing Director at Discovery Networks in India from 1995 - 2001. He spearheaded the launch of Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
in South Asia in August 1995 and Animal Planet
Animal Planet
Animal Planet is an American cable tv specialty channel that launched on October 1, 1996. It is distributed by Discovery Communications. A high-definition simulcast of the channel launched on September 1, 2007.-History:...
in 1999.
Mr. Karnik worked for over 20 years in the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). He held various positions related to the conception, planning and implementation of applications of space technology, focusing especially on the use of communications for development. He was deeply involved in the conception and, for many years, overseeing the Kheda Communications Project. This pioneering effort won wide national and international acclaim, including the first UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
-IPDC
International Programme for the Development of Communication
The International Programme for the Development of Communication is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization programme aimed at strengthening the development of mass media in developing countries.- Background :...
Prize for rural Communication. Karnik was a key member of the management team for the India – USA Satellite Instructional TV Experiment (SITE), the first every large scale use of satellite direct broadcasting (1975-76), which took education and development to remote parts of rural India. In 1998, Mr. Karnik was awarded the Frank Malina medal for Space Education by the International Astronautical Federation
International Astronautical Federation
International Astronautical Federation , the world's foremost space advocacy organisation, is based in Paris. It was founded in 1951 as a non-governmental organization. It has 206 members from 58 countries across the world. They are drawn from space agencies, industry, professional associations,...
. From 1983 to 1991, Mr. Karnik held the position as Director of the Development and Educational Communicational Unit.
In 1991, Mr. Karnik joined the Consortium for Educational Communication (CEC) as its first Director. CEC is the apex body set up by University Grants Commission to co-ordinate and oversee the functioning of media centres in the universities, and is responsible for ensuring the production and transmission of educational TV programmes for college students.
Mr. Karnik has worked briefly with the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in New York and Vienna, serving as Special Assistant to the Secretary-General of UNISPACE 82. He has done an extended consulting assignment for UNESCO in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, and has also been a consultant for World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
, The World Bank, UN Institute for Disarmament Research and the Ford Foundation
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
. He has been involved with many committees of the government, including the Prasar Bharati Review Committee.
Karnik has authored/edited a large number of publications, and lectures occasionally at major national institutes. His educational background includes an Honours degree in Physics from Bombay University, followed by post-graduation from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.