Washington: The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) has announced the appointment of two prominent industry leaders, Uday Shankar, Vice Chairman of JioStar and Founder Director of Bodhi Tree Systems, and Joseph E. (Joe) Creed, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Caterpillar Inc., to its Board of Directors.
Shankar, a media and entertainment veteran, is widely recognized for his transformative leadership in the Indian media landscape. He co-founded Bodhi Tree Systems with James Murdoch in 2020, focusing on investments in media, education, and consumer-facing sectors across the Indian Ocean region. Under his leadership, Bodhi Tree has strategically invested in JioStar (formerly Viacom18), India’s leading media conglomerate, and ALLEN Career Institute, a premier education business in India.
As Vice Chairman of JioStar, Mr. Shankar oversees its sports, streaming, and broadcast operations and leads strategic direction for JioHotstar—one of the world’s largest streaming platforms, with over 200 million paying subscribers.
Creed, who assumed the role of CEO at Caterpillar on May 1, brings nearly three decades of experience within the company. He leads a global workforce of nearly 113,000 employees across 63 countries, driving Caterpillar’s strategic focus on profitable growth, sustainability, and innovation in the manufacturing and infrastructure sectors.
Announcing the appointments, USISPF Chairman John Chambers stated, “I’m honored to welcome both Uday and Joe to the board. Our partnership with Caterpillar enters an exciting new chapter under Joe’s leadership, and it’s a privilege to welcome Uday back in this new role. The strength of the U.S.-India relationship is reflected in the extraordinary talent and global perspective these two leaders bring—one from the world of media and entertainment, the other from engineering and machinery. What unites them is a shared commitment to innovation, excellence, and a deep belief in the power of collaboration to drive progress across our two great democracies.”
Dr. Mukesh Aghi, President and CEO of USISPF, added, “Uday has built a reputation for innovating on legacy media brands with an eye for digital innovation and disruption, while serving one of the most dynamic and challenging media markets – India. In all his endeavors, Uday has kept the Indian consumer at heart.”
Reflecting on his appointment, Shankar said, “It gives me great pleasure to extend my long-standing association with USISPF. The India–U.S. relationship has never been more consequential, especially as the world navigates a rapidly evolving geopolitical and economic landscape. I look forward to partnering with USISPF and its partners to deepen collaboration between our two nations, particularly in the areas of media, technology, and education, where shared values and innovation can unlock transformative opportunities.”
Creed’s long tenure at Caterpillar includes leadership roles across several key divisions. Prior to becoming CEO, he served as Chief Operating Officer and held senior executive roles in Caterpillar’s Energy & Transportation, Oil & Gas, Marine, and Electric Power segments. As the company prepares to celebrate its centennial in 2025, Creed remains committed to driving innovation and sustainability.
Commenting on the appointment, Dr. Aghi said: “We’ve had a long and successful partnership with Caterpillar since our beginnings, and I am excited to begin a new phase with Joe, who represents Caterpillar’s global excellence and long history of manufacturing, infrastructure development and cutting-edge technology in India. I am confident that under Joe, we will continue to fortify our mission of nurturing strong commercial bonds between the United States and India.”
Expressing his enthusiasm, Creed said, “I am honored to join the Board of Directors and continue Caterpillar’s long-term collaboration with the forum. I look forward to working with fellow leaders to support the success of the economic relationship between the United States and India.”
