The US-India Business Council said on Friday it has appointed Joseph Gilmour, chairman and chief executive officer of insurance firm New York Life International, to its board of directors.

The council, representing 250 largest US companies with investments in India and 24 largest Indian companies, works to strengthen bilateral ties, a council release said.

New York Life is a Chairman's Circle member of the Council and participates frequently in council acitivities, besides chairing the insurance and pension committees.

"Gilmour, a seasoned international executive with a great deal of expertise in India and the Asia-Pacific region, is an important addition to the US-India Business Council Board," Council Chairman Charles Kaye said. 

Gilmour brought a solid track record of global business experience as head of New York Life International, one of the largest foreign insurers in India, Kaye said.