US-based Serial Investor and prominent digital transformation leader Sajan Pillai promoted McLaren Strategic Ventures has announced the appointment of Lisna Ismail (Liz) as Group Head, Corporate Communications. In her new role Liz will lead corporate and integrated communications for the US-based business accelerator as well as its group companies including Season Two Ventures, an early-stage venture fund and other portfolio companies.
She will be based in India and report to the COO, Ms. Anjali Nair and will work closely with the Founder/Promoter and leadership team based in Southern California.
Commenting on the appointment, Sajan Pillai said, “With the increasing number of portfolios in US and India under McLaren and Season Two as well as the Family Office, Liz’s role is very crucial in building up the communication infrastructure of the group and its portfolios across India and US. We are happy to have her onboard, we are confident that her experience across global markets will leverage us at this critical growth stage.”
A well-known global leader in digital transformation, Sajan Pillai launched McLaren and Season Two after his two-decade-long stint at UST Global as it’s CEO. Sajan was responsible for UST’s growth and acquisitions, his leadership saw UST Global grow significantly, seeing the company grow from 20 employees to more than 25,000 employees today.
Continuing with his mission of global digital transformation, both McLaren and Season Two invest in start-ups and midsized companies that are into deep tech; today the group boasts a marquee lineup of promising technology companies within their kitty. Key portfolio companies include: Clear Eye, an LA headquartered advanced artificial intelligence (AI) machine learning platform enabling banks to launch tailored products; 4BaseCare, onco-tech company building patient-centric ecosystem to study the evidence generated from real-world settings to get a better understanding of cancer treatments; Warehouse Now, an on-demand warehousing & supply chain solution; Uvik UPoS, a start-up transforming digital payments through a contactless mobile payment interface; Ozone, provider of a free consumer platform intended for individuals to sync, secure and sell personal internet data; HiLabs, which developed solution that automatically detects data errors without human knowledge or input; and Ambee, offering air quality monitoring by capturing accurate and granular hyperlocal data and analytics around the world.
Group is also investing significantly into Senior Living in India, two homes are already open in Kerala, more centers to be opened across Metros and other Indian cities in the coming months under the brand name Season Two Senior Living. The family office managed by Pillai Family Trust invests mostly into consumer business. Lil’ Goodness, the kid’s nutrition and heathy snacking initiative, SVAST, the AI integrated health care services, also into inbound and outbound medical value tourism & Reflections Global providing digital services also falls under the family office.
Liz joins McLaren Strategic Ventures from ResPublica Consulting, leading public affairs consulting company that works with governments, technologies, and funds, having significant operations in South India.