Gaurav Verma is the Chief Operating Officer of the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF). In this role, Gaurav supervises day-to-day operations, oversees the P&L, and coordinates the strategic management of USISPF’s various programs and initiatives. Gaurav provides leadership and direct management of the USISPF team, engages senior leaders across member companies and government stakeholders, and works closely with the Forum’s Board of Directors.
Before this role, Gaurav worked for over a decade with the U.S.-India Business Council to help solve problems for U.S. companies as they did business in India, providing a forum for senior industry and government leaders in both countries to meet their foreign counterparts. Gaurav has experience in global business development, growth, strategy, day-to-day management, and digital economy portfolio execution for non-profit organizations, as well as Board of Director relations and oversight. Gaurav has created a coalition for jobs and growth to ensure American businesses have access to international expertise needed to drive economic growth and job creation.
Prior to his current role, Gaurav played a pivotal role in the New York Grant Company’s efforts to rebuild Lower Manhattan after the 9/11 attack. In this capacity, he collaborated closely with the impacted businesses, the New York City Economic Development Corporation and the New York State Empire State Development Corporation.
Gaurav is an active supporter of social causes in New York. He is the Chair of the Board at Network 20/20, which bridges the gap between the private sector and foreign policy worlds by meaningfully engaging rising and established professionals in foreign policy, and an Advisory Board Member of the Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC). He is also the Treasurer of the U.S.-India Friendship Alliance (USIFA), the philanthropic arm of USISPF.
A native of Delhi, India, Gaurav earned a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Investments from Baruch College, City University New York, and a Bachelor of Commerce (Honors) from Delhi University.