Dr Shailesh Ayyangar conferred Officer of the National Order of Merit [fr]
Ambassador of France to India, H.E. Mr Alexandre Ziegler conferred the French distinction on Dr Shailesh Ayyangar, Managing Director - Sanofi India.
Mumbai, 15 November 2016
On behalf of the President of the French Republic, H.E. Mr Alexandre Ziegler, Ambassador of France to India, conferred the high French distinction, Officier de l’Ordre national du Mérite (Officer of the National Order of Merit) on Dr. Shailesh Ayyangar, Managing Director - India and Vice President - South Asia, Sanofi, on Tuesday, 15th November 2016.
The honour comes in recognition of his outstanding contribution and dedication to promoting public health, particularly amongst children and diabetics, and turning scientific innovations into therapeutic solutions.
Dr Shailesh Ayyangar
Dr Shailesh Ayyangar, born on 15th October 1954, is the Managing Director - India and Vice President - South Asia, Sanofi (Global healthcare leader present in India since 1956) and President - Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI), unanimously elected for four consecutive years since 2013. A graduate in Veterinary Science, Dr Ayyangar holds a Post-graduate Degree in Business Management from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
In his career spanning over three decades, he has gathered wide-ranging experience in the pharmaceutical industry. In April 2002 he joined Sanofi as Managing Director, which was further extended to the combined Company Sanofi-Aventis, in 2005. In 2010, he was assigned additional responsibilities for Sanofi’s South Asia Zone comprising Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
In 2014, Dr Ayyangar was listed among ‘India’s Best CEOs’ in Mid-Sized Companies category by Business India magazine, and in 2013, he was recognized as ‘Most Valuable CEO’ in Mid-Sized Companies category by Business World magazine.
Along with his corporate vision for positioning Sanofi as a market leader, Dr Ayyangar also undertook initiatives for social and educational development. Thus, Sanofi India has implemented several projects for promoting public health, particularly amongst children and diabetics. Sanofi provides full financing for a programme – supported by the Public Health Foundation of India – aimed at promoting hygiene among Indian schoolchildren. Further, Sanofi India helps towards recreational facilities in Indian hospitals and conducts free health check-ups near its Goa plant. At Dr Ayyangar’s initiative, almost 300 Sanofi employees carry out voluntary work for the benefit of underprivileged children in Mumbai. It may be noted that the company also came to the aid of people severely affected by the 2013 and 2014 floods in North India.
Ordre National du Mérite
Ordre National du Mérite (French National Order of Merit) was instituted in 1963 by General Charles de Gaulle. It is awarded for distinguished services rendered in public, civil, military posts, or a private profession.