Dinesh C. Paliwal
President & CEO
HARMAN
Dinesh Paliwal is president and chief executive officer of HARMAN, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. In addition to the HARMAN Board, Dinesh serves on the boards of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY), Nestlé (SIX:NESN), and Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN).
Dinesh joined HARMAN in 2007 and has transformed the company into a customer-centric and innovation driven technology leader, expanding the company’s business in high-growth emerging markets, instituting best-in-class operating processes that have resulted in significant top and bottom-line growth, and positioning the company as the premier tier one partner to automotive companies around the world. In addition to serving as president and CEO, Dinesh served as chairman of the Board of Directors of HARMAN from 2008 to March 2017 when the company was acquired by Samsung Electronics for US$8 billion.
Dinesh has worked and lived in six countries on four continents, including the United States, China, Switzerland, Singapore, Australia, and India. Prior to joining HARMAN, he spent 22 years with ABB Group (NYSE:ABB), where he last held the dual role of president of ABB Group with responsibility for the company’s global P&L, and chairman and chief executive officer of ABB North America. Most notably, he achieved profitable growth for the multi-billion North American operation following 18 years of losses.
He is a member of the CEO Business Roundtable and serves on the corporate advisory boards of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Wilson Center, and the India Business Advisory Council of Lincoln Center. He also serves on the board of directors of the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) and the Board of Visitors of the Farmer School of Business, Miami University.
Among his many accolades, Dinesh was named to Motor Trend’s Power List, the Recode 100, and Fortune Magazine’s “Business Person of the Year” list. In addition, Dinesh has been honored by numerous organizations for his contributions to diversity, education and community efforts, including honors from the T.J. Martell Foundation and B'nai B'rith International. He is a recipient of the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor from the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations, which celebrates patriotism, tolerance and diversity.
Dinesh holds a master’s degree in engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Roorkee) and master’s degrees in applied science and engineering, and business administration from Miami University of Ohio. In 2019, the board of trustees of Miami University also conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws to Dinesh for his ongoing efforts and contributions toward advancing the University’s leadership in business, technology, innovation and entrepreneurial endeavors.