Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI), in association with the Kashinath Damodar Naik Memorial Trust, has announced the recipients of the prestigious ‘Kashinath Damodar Naik – Pride of Goa Awards 2025’, instituted to honour distinguished Goans for their exceptional contributions to business, industry and entrepreneurship.
For the year 2025, two eminent personalities have been selected under the Lifetime Achievement and Entrepreneur categories.
The Kashinath Damodar Naik – Pride of Goa – Lifetime Achievement Award will be conferred on Ms. Anju Timblo, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fomento Resorts and Hotels Pvt. Ltd., in recognition of her outstanding leadership and long-standing contribution to strengthening Goa’s hospitality sector.
A distinguished academic, Ms. Timblo topped India in the Higher Secondary Arts Examination, secured first rank in Economics from Lady Shri Ram College and later graduated in Law from Government Law College, Bombay, earning two gold medals. She began her professional journey as a law teacher in Goa and later assumed leadership roles in social and community organisations, including serving as President of the All India Women’s Conference (Goa Branch). She is the founder and president of Fomento Education and Charitable Societies, which run institutions such as the Goa College of Hospitality & Culinary Education, affiliated to Goa University, and the Dona Leonor Memorial High School.
Since 1993, Ms. Timblo has been at the helm of Fomento Resorts and Hotels Pvt. Ltd., spearheading iconic properties such as Taj Cidade de Goa – Heritage and the world-class Taj Cidade de Goa – Horizon, together forming the largest luxury hospitality complex in Goa. Under her leadership, the luxury resort Araqila in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, has also been commissioned, pioneering hospitality development in the region. She is widely acknowledged for her commitment to culture, education and community development, and for promoting Goan art, music, cuisine and traditions.
The Kashinath Damodar Naik – Pride of Goa – Entrepreneur Award will be presented to Mr. Sachin Lawande, President and Chief Executive Officer of Visteon Corporation, Michigan, USA. He is being honoured for his exemplary achievements as a global business leader and for bringing international recognition to Goa through his pioneering work in automotive technology.
A native of Taleigao, Mr. Lawande has served as President and CEO of Visteon, a Fortune 500 company and a global leader in cockpit electronics, since 2015, and is also a member of its Board of Directors. Under his visionary leadership, Visteon has emerged as a key innovator in the automotive industry, driving advancements in hybrid and battery electric vehicle technologies and securing record new business with global automakers including General Motors, BMW and Hyundai. The company is credited with transforming automobile display systems and redefining the modern, technology-driven car experience.
An alumnus of Auxilium Convent, Caranzalem, Mr. Lawande rose from a middle-class background to become an international corporate leader. Prior to joining Visteon, he held senior leadership roles at Harman International and has over two decades of experience in embedded systems and software, with four communications software patents to his credit. He also serves on the Board of Cognex Corporation. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Telecommunications from Bombay University and a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville.
The Kashinath Damodar Naik Memorial Trust was established to honour the memory and legacy of Late Mr. Kashinath Damodar Naik, a noted Margao-based businessman, historian and philanthropist. The Pride of Goa Awards seek to highlight the achievements of individuals who have built successful enterprises, contributed to economic development and brought pride to the State.
The formal award ceremony will be held on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at 5.00 pm at Gomant Vidya Niketan, Margao, and is open to the public.
