WASHINGTON - S. Joe Bhatia has been appointed as the new president and chief executive officer of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), a private nonprofit organization that administers and coordinates the U.S. voluntary standards system.

Bhatia, formerly executive vice president and chief operating officer of the international group at Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL), was elected at a special meeting of the ANSI board of directors. The announcement was made following a global search to identify a successor to Dr. Mark W. Hurwitz, who will be retiring from ANSI at year-end. Bhatia will join ANSI on Jan. 1, 2006.

"Joe Bhatia has the skills, capabilities, passion, and enthusiasm to lead ANSI into the future," said Dr. John V. Bergen, chairman of the board search committee. "He has a strong business background and a high level of comfort in the volunteer-driven, not-for-profit world. He has a strong knowledge of ANSI and is well known within the standardization and conformity assessment communities, within the government sphere, and on the international business scene."

"It is a privilege and an honor for me to be given the opportunity to be a part of ANSI's future success," Bhatia said. "The institute is an important focal point organization in this country and the role it plays in the next decade will be critical to U.S. industry, standards developing organizations, government, consumers, and other stakeholders."

During his 35-year tenure with Underwriters Laboratories, Bhatia assumed positions of progressive leadership in global business operations. His areas of responsibility have included engineering, governmental and external affairs, certification services and, most recently, direction of UL's $300 million international operations.

Publication date: 11/21/2005