Merrill Lynch chief named to US-India Business Council

Washington, Dec 8: The US-India Business Council (USIBC) has announced the appointment of Merrill Lynch International chairman James Quigley to its Board of Directors.

The Council is the premier business advocacy organization representing 250 of the largest US companies investing in India and two dozen of India's largest global companies.

Merrill Lynch is a Chairman's Circle member of USIBC, the highest level of membership. The company is a longtime supporter of expanding business ties between the US and India and works actively to strengthen commercial relations between the two countries.

In India, Merrill Lynch holds a 90% stake in DSP Merrill Lynch, the pre-eminent full service domestic investment bank. DSP Merrill Lynch is a leading underwriter and broker of debt and equity securities and a leading advisor to corporations and Indian government entities.

As chairman of Merrill Lynch International, Mr Quigley serves as a partner and advisor to the global business heads to maximize revenue and strategic growth opportunities across key markets in investment banking, trading and global wealth management.

''Mr Quigley is a distinguished banker who will be a wonderful addition to our Board of Directors,'' said Council Chairman Charles Kaye, in a statement yesterday. ''As the chairman of Merrill Lynch International, he brings a unique and highly-valuable perspective to the Council.'' Speaking about his appointment to the US-India Business Council Board of Directors, Mr Quigley said,''I look forward to offering the Council both insights arising from Merrill Lynch's leading investment banking activities in India, as well as those I have personally gained from managing Merrill Lynch businesses among the BRIC group of countries.'' Merrill Lynch is one of the world's leading wealth management, capital markets and advisory companies with offices in 38 countries and territories and total client assets of approximately 1.8 trillion dollars.

UNI