Mr Kapila is the chairman and managing director of ICT Ltd, a New Delhi based firm that has been ranked among the top hundred consultancy companies in the world, and which operates in 30 countries.

Already a member of the IRF Geneva board of directors, and vice-chairman since 2007, Mr Kapila's election earned him the distinction of becoming the first non-European to be elected to this key responsibility.

His appointment was announced yesterday (25 May) at the 16th IRF World Meeting at the Federation's Geneva Programme Centre in London.
  
When asked to present his vision for the future of IRF, and what he would like to achieve during his chairmanship, Mr Kapila  began by paying tribute to the firm foundations laid by his predecessor and friend, Jean Beauverd, whose has steered the organisation through a period of global economic turmoil and seen it emerge strengthened and more united.

In his acceptance speech, he highlighted changing perceptions of the global importance of roads and the need to transcend their past, often unfairly negative, image.

'Road development is the engine of economic development, and helps to achieve social development in an inclusive manner.  It connects various regions and stimulates integrated development. For example, IRF activities promoting safer road development automatically enhance integrated social and economic development.'

Amongst numerous distinctions, Mr Kapila has been nominated a "Man of the Year 2001" by the American Biographical Institute and was presented with the Bentley Award for design excellence in 2005. In 2007, he was honoured with the IRF Award for his outstanding contribution to road safety.