By Jocelyn Fernandes
Publication Date: 2026-02-18 08:19:00
French President Emmanuel Macron called India the leader of global innovation, not just a participant. Speaking at the India–France Innovation Forum on 17 February, Macron noted that a number of global executives come from India and are leading the tech charge.
“The CEO of Alphabet is Indian. The CEO of Microsoft is Indian. The CEO of IBM is Indian. The CEO of Adobe is Indian. The CEO of Palo Alto Networks is Indian. The CEO of Chanel is from Kolhapur, right here in this state… India does not just participate in global innovation; India leads it…” he remarked.
Macron was referring to Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, Arvind Krishna, Shantanu Narayen, Nikesh Arora, and Leena Nair, respectively, chief executives of the global software, tech and fashion companies he named. Notably, Chanel is a French luxury fashion house founded in 1910 by famed designer Coco Chanel.
