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Indian Executives Soar in US Boardrooms: A Record Surge in S&P 500 Directorships
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Moneycontrol•28-09-2026, 07:36
Indian Executives Soar in US Boardrooms: A Record Surge in S&P 500 Directorships
- •A record 16 Indian men joined S&P 500 boards this year, taking directorships at companies like Walmart Inc., Southwest Airlines Co., and Western Digital Corp.
- •The share of Indian men among directors at Fortune 500 and S&P 500 companies has tripled since 2018, outpacing increases for women, Black, and Hispanic directors.
- •The gains are attributed to companies prioritizing directors with CEO or operating experience, credentials many Indian business leaders have accumulated after decades in the US.
- •77% of Indian men on Fortune 500 and S&P 500 boards have operating backgrounds, and roughly two-thirds have held CEO roles.
- •The success of Indian men in US boardrooms is seen as a result of their rigorous career paths, adaptability, and the foundation laid by earlier generations of Indian executives.
Key Questions Answered
A record 16 Indian men joined S&P 500 boards this year, taking directorships at major companies like Walmart Inc., Southwest Airlines Co., and Western Digital Corp.
Of the 184 Indian men currently serving on Fortune 500 and S&P 500 boards, 77% possess operating or profit-and-loss backgrounds, with roughly two-thirds having held CEO roles.
The Trump administration has tightened immigration restrictions, such as imposing a $100,000 fee on employers seeking certain H-1B workers and proposing separate fee plans, alongside a decline in student visas.
