I-House Welcomes Vreni Hommes ’89 and Gautam Shirhattikar ’05 to the Board of Trustees

At its October 29 meeting, the International House Board of Trustees elected alumni Vreni Hommes ’89 and Gautam Shirhattikar ’05 as its newest members.

“We are thrilled to welcome two accomplished alumni to the Board of Trustees,” said Sebastian Fries, President & CEO. “Vreni and Gautam are passionate about our I-House community and deeply committed to our future success. Each brings a unique blend of experience and insight to the Board. We are incredibly grateful for their partnership and strategic expertise as we prepare for I-House’s second century.”

Hommes rejoins the board this year, having previously served as a trustee from 1989 to 2004. During her first term, she was active on various board committees, served as a co-chair of the World Council of Alumni, chaired the New York Area Alumni Council, and advised on the creation of leadership programs.

Shirhattikar, who spent some of his formative years at I-House in the early 2000s, brings more than 20 years of experience in starting & scaling up businesses as a senior C-level executive and entrepreneur focused on healthcare services and real estate.

“Gautam and Vreni are both tremendous additions to the Board,” said William D. Reuckert, Interim Board Chair. “Their global business expertise and their deep understanding of the House positions them exceptionally well for this responsibility. We’re eager to collaborate with them as we pursue our shared goals for International House in the years to come.”

Hommes is a seasoned consultant with over 20 years of experience in the design and management of large-scale, transformational organizational change programs for Fortune 500 companies. Her expertise is in enabling business change and improving organizational performance through strategic initiatives, innovation programs, and cutting-edge technologies. She is a trusted advisor to senior leadership and an executive coach to established and emerging leaders navigating transitions. Hommes has previously served in roles with PwC’s Transformational Change Management Practice in New York and London, Hewitt Associates, Ernst & Young/Capgemini Consulting, and Rabobank Nederland. She has taught various graduate courses at New York University and has served on non-profit boards, including the Organization Development Network, New York Chapter.

“It is an honor to rejoin the I-House Board,” Hommes said. “It also feels like a homecoming, returning to the place I love and that gave me so much. Now it’s my turn to give back, following the examples of I-House role models on the board and among the alumni who helped shaped me. I’m quite excited about continuing to support I-House and the I-House community as it enters its second century.”

Shirhattikar currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Synergy Health Partners and previously served as CEO of MyCare Medical Group and Pharmaco Ventures. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles at Vein Clinics of America and Cardinal Health. Shirhattikar has served on both for-profit and non-profit boards and is actively engaged in mentorship and philanthropic initiatives focused on children’s health and education. He began his career as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company advising Fortune 500 healthcare clients on strategy and operations. He holds an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School, an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University, and a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.

“It is a true honor and privilege to be able to serve the International House community as a Trustee,” Shirhattikar said. “Living at I-House was a transformational experience at a pivotal time in my life as a young adult, and a chance to be part of a very unique and diverse global community.  It is a full circle moment to now be able to return to the House as a Trustee and provide that same kind of formative experience to our current residents and alumni.”