Mr. Shekhar Bajaj
Chairman - Bajaj Electricals Limited and Bajel Projects Limited

Mr. Shekhar Bajaj's career spans decades of leadership and guidance in the corporate landscape. As the Chairman of Bajaj Electricals Limited and Bajel Projects Limited, he has steered these organizations towards success, earning widespread acclaim for his strategic acumen and commitment to excellence.

Born into the esteemed Bajaj family, Mr. Bajaj's upbringing was steeped in trust, transparency and Gandhian ideals, instilled by his grandfather, Shri. Jamnalal Bajaj and social reformer grandmother Smt Jankidevi Bajaj. He further inherited core values of ethical business along with a strong sense of national duty from his father Shri Ramkrishna Bajaj. Armed with a B.Sc. (Hons) degree in Mathematics from Pune University and further fortified by an MBA from New York University, Mr. Bajaj embarked on his professional journey with a blend of academic background and practical wisdom.

His tenure at Bajaj Sevashram was crucial in honing his skills and understanding the intricacies of business operations. Over the years, Mr. Bajaj assumed leadership roles within Bajaj Electricals, culminating in his appointment as Managing Director in 1984, followed by Chairman & Managing Director in 1990.

Under Mr. Bajaj's leadership, Bajaj Electricals underwent a shift, evolving from a traditional player to a dynamic force driving innovation and excellence in the industry. Embracing technological advancements and forging strategic alliances, Mr. Bajaj enabled the company to advance into new sectors, diversifying its product portfolio and enhancing its competitive edge. Under Mr Bajaj’s leadership, the company expanded into the High Mast and the Transmission Line Tower business, facilitating significant growth.

He led strategic tie-ups with international companies like Morphy Richards of the UK for Appliances, Midea for Fans and the merger of Nirlep Appliances Pvt Ltd for Cookware. The company also launched a new performance-backed appliances brand ‘Nex’ in 2023. The introduction of ToC (Theory of Constraints) by Bajaj Electricals achieved great success upon implementation across businesses, helping the company reach out to far-fledged places with over 2,00,000 retail counters, covering over 500 districts across the country.

His leadership style combines qualities of compassion and concern. He has successfully bridged the gap between principles and profitability, philanthropy and professionalism in his unpretentious and unassuming manner. He believes people are the ultimate source of strength in any organisation. He upholds meritocracy, looking upon his employees as an extension of his family and in the process, winning the unswerving loyalty of his team.

Mr. Bajaj is deeply committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and community development. According to Mr Bajaj, CSR is not just about fulfilling legal obligations. It is about embracing ethical values and contributing to sustainable development for the benefit of society, the nation and the planet. He has supported programmes that range from providing accessible eye-health care in remote villages, planting lakhs of trees on barren land to convert them into mini forests, supporting small-scale industries and weavers of Khadi; and many such initiatives that characterize the Bajaj Group’s motto of ‘Going Beyond’.

He inspires future generations of leaders, embodying the values of integrity, resilience, and compassionate leadership.

Roles and Recognitions:-

• >Past President of multiple prestigious associations including ASSOCHAM, IMC, ELCOMA, IFMA, and CFBP.
• >On the board of BHIL, Hercules Hoist of numerous companies, contributing his expertise and leadership.
• >Recognized for his service to the industry with an Honorary Doctorate, reflecting his long-standing dedication and outstanding contributions.

Anuj Poddar is the Managing Director & CEO of Bajaj Electricals Limited, India’s leading Consumer Appliances, Lighting and Engineering Projects company. In this role, Anuj Poddar is responsible for managing all the businesses and operations of the Company.

Prior to this he was a member of the Leadership Team at Viacom18 Media Private Limited and one of its key founding team members. During his over 13 years with the company he played an integral role in the growth of the company including its very successful foray into mass entertainment with Colors, its expansion into international territories, the acquisition and launch of its motion pictures business as well as its foray into the regional language networks business. He also led strategy for MTV Networks Asia, based out of Singapore. Prior to Viacom 18 Media, Anuj spent nearly a decade with Arthur Andersen and KPMG and was involved in a range of consulting, mergers & acquisitions and assurance services to a range of clients across financial services, consumer, IT & ITES and other sectors.

He is a Trustee of the Ananta Centre, a Fellow of it’s Inaugural Class of the Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellowship and member of Aspen Global Leadership Network, a member of BMW Foundation's World Responsible Leaders’ Network and has been on the Governing Council of CII-Young Indians. Anuj is a rank-holding Chartered Accountant and lives with his family in Mumbai, India.

Pooja Bajaj's professional journey is defined by a holistic blend of academic excellence, strategic acumen, and a commitment to corporate governance and social responsibility.

Armed with a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce with Specialisation in Foreign Trade, she also earned the prestigious Gold Medal (commerce) in her batch from Nasr School, Hyderabad and was the ‘Head Girl’ of the school for her leadership qualities.

Pooja embarked on a path of continuous learning. She did her Master’s in Management from the University of Leeds, England, and her Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management from Osmania University, Hyderabad, further equipped her with the skills necessary for navigating the complex landscape of modern business.

#Awarded Certificate of Merit for Academic Excellence in Vocational Education

#Awarded a Certificate of participation at the Fourth Commonwealth-India Small Business Competitiveness Development Programme in collaboration with Exim Bank India-National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) & Commonwealth Secretariat

#Certificate of accomplishment for participating in the Mini MBA Management Essentials Programme from Think Education in collaboration with faculty from New York University-Columbia University.

Since joining the board of Bajaj Electricals Ltd. in November 2018, Pooja has been instrumental in getting trained on the company's strategic direction and learning about its culture of excellence.

Recognizing the importance of hands-on experience, she dedicated 2.5 years to immersive training in the consumer durable segment, gaining a comprehensive understanding of market dynamics, competitive landscapes, and financial nuances. This groundwork laid the foundation for her in-depth knowledge about the FMEG sector.

In May 2022, she completed the ‘ISB-EY Executive Programme on Board Effectiveness,’ which empowered women leaders to develop board responsibilities and strategies to achieve corporate goals.

Pooja's commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility is evident through her multifaceted involvement in various initiatives. As a Trustee of the Bajaj Electricals Foundation, she worked on bringing focus to its portfolio of projects hence make a meaningful impact in the communities the company serves, while also championing the development of various initiatives for internal employee volunteering programs. Additionally, her role as a Trustee of the Laxmi Narayan Devasthanam Trust, Wardha, underscores her dedication to community development.

Beyond her corporate responsibilities, Pooja remains deeply engaged in fostering industry best practices and promoting ethical business conduct at her involvement as committee member in Ladies’ Wing IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry highlights her commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity for social projects on women’s rural entrepreneurship.

Pooja's recent involvement in operationalizing the Khadi Exhibition sponsored by Bajaj Electricals Ltd., aptly named Swadheen, exemplifies her hands-on approach to driving initiatives that resonate with the company's ethos and values. Her gentle leadership and dedication have allowed her to drive various such successful projects for the company.

Pooja Bajaj's creativity extends beyond the boardroom, as she is an accomplished artist. Her exhibition at Jehangir Art Gallery, titled ‘Unleashed—Defining the Abstract,’ defined the abstract beauty of nature and revolved around the valour of the horses, tigers, and elephants.

Rajivnayan Rahulkumar Bajaj, born on 21 December 1966, graduated first in class, with distinction, in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pune in 1988, and then completed his masters in Manufacturing Systems Engineering, with distinction, from the University of Warwick in 1991.

He has since worked at Bajaj Auto Ltd. (Bajaj Auto) in the areas of Manufacturing and Supply Chain (1990-95), R+D and Engineering (1995-2000) and Marketing and Sales (2000-2005) and has been its Managing Director since April 2005.

He has won a number of awards and recognitions from various prestigious bodies & institutions for his Business Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Madhur Bajaj is the Director and Non-Executive Vice Chairman of Bajaj Auto Limited – India’s leading two-wheeler and three-wheeler manufacturing company. He is also a past chairman of Maharashtra Scooters Limited (MSL), besides being Director of Bajaj Electricals Limited, Bajaj Finance Limited and several other companies of the Bajaj Group.

Having more than 29 years of experience in Auto, Consumer Durables and Financial Services, Madhur Bajaj is the recipient of the ‘Vikas Rattan Award’ from the International Friendship Society of India, for enhancing human life and outstanding achievements.

Born on 19 August 1952, he is an alumnus of Doon School, Dehra Dun. Madhur Bajaj received an undergraduate degree from Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics in 1973. After obtaining his graduate degree, he completed his MBA from the International Institute of Management Development (IMD), Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1979.

He previously occupied the position of President of Mahratta Chamber of Commerce Industries & Agriculture, President for Industries Association of Pune and President of Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers.

He is also serving the National Council Member of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Madhur Bajaj has been associated with the Board of Bajaj Auto Ltd since 1995.

Shailesh Haribhakti is a renowned Chartered and Cost Accountant, and a Certified Internal Auditor, Financial Planner, and Fraud Examiner, with over five decades of experience. Mr Haribhakti is the Chairman of Shailesh Haribhakti & Associates Chartered Accountants, and the Vice Chairman of GOvEVA Consulting Pvt Ltd. He has been conferred with the Global Competent Boards Designation (GCB.D) by Competent Boards Inc, Canada. Presented with the honorary PhD title of “Doctor of Letters” by ITM University. He has been awarded the ’Vivekananda Sustainability Award – 2022’ by Vivekananda Youth Connect Foundation.

A proponent of a clean and green environment, he is credited to have successfully established the concept of ‘Innovate to Zero’ and technology enabling CSR/ESG/Sustainability.

In the space of dispute settlement and arbitration, he has demonstrated his expertise as Expert Witness and Valuer in both domestic and international jurisdictions. He represented India on the Standards Advisory Council (SAC) of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) in London for two years. He worked with Polish Business Advisory Services (PBAS), an affiliate of IFC Washington, to establish Activity-based costing and Strategic Planning Processes in Polish SMEs.

In addition, Mr Haribhakti is currently the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Bluestar Limited, Cynergis Infotech India Pvt Ltd, Protean e-Gov Technologies Ltd, and Chairman of IBS Fintech India Pvt Ltd, Planet People & Profit Consulting Pvt Ltd, and YCWI Green Solutions Pvt Ltd.

He is also a Board Member of several leading companies including Adani Total Gas Ltd, Bajaj Electricals Ltd, Bennett Coleman and Company Ltd (Times Group), Brookprop Services Pvt Ltd (a Brookfield REIT), Future Generali India Life Insurance Company Ltd, Gaja Trustee Company Pvt Ltd (Gaja Capital Group), L&T Finance Holdings Ltd, Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd, amongst others.

In recent times, some prominent Boards and Board Committees led by him have been recognised with coveted awards, which speak of his penchant for excellence in the areas of corporate governance and sustainability.

He has been associated with many management institutions as well as industry and professional forums. He has led the Bombay Management Association; Institute of Internal Auditors, Bombay Chapter; Western India Regional Council, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India; Indian Merchants Chambers; Financial Planning and Standards Board, India; and Rotary Club of Bombay; over the last many decades. He has served on the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)’s Committee on Disclosures and Accounting Standards and Takeover Panel and was Chairman of the NPS (National Pension Scheme) Trust from 2015-2017.

Mr. Sudarshan Sampathkumar has over 30 years of experience in advisory, consulting, and private equity. He is currently a Partner and Director at The Bridgespan Group (India), a Non-Executive Independent Director and mentor at Profectus Capital Private Limited, and on the Advisory board of Chinmaya Vishwa Vidyalaya, Chinmaya Mission.

Previously, Mr. Sudarshan Sampathkumar was a Partner & Managing Director at Bain & Company. He also served as the Managing Director & GP of a Private Equity Fund and held leadership roles at Accenture and Neuron Data Corporation.

Mr. Sudarshan Sampathkumar holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, India, and a Bachelor of Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India. His objective is to contribute to high-performing entities and boards by leveraging his advisory experience, implementation skills, leadership experience, and understanding of the corporate sector.

Mr. Vikram Hosangady, 50 years, holds a membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, the Institute of Cost Accountants of India and commerce degree from Loyola College, Chennai. He has been a seasoned business leader and finance professional with over 25 years of experience in being a strategic partner to several large Indian and global corporations alike. He has also assisted several private equity funds in their investment life cycle.

He is also on the Board of Directors of MRF Limited, Chemplast Sanmar Limited, and Rane (Madras) Limited.

Mr. Hosangady has worked with KPMG India and Global in various positions from 2005 to 2022. He was a part of the KPMG India Leadership Team between 2017 and 2021. Prior to KPMG, he has also worked with EY and Arthur Andersen.

Ms. Swati Salgaocar is a Director at the Vimson Group and President of V. M. Salgaocar & Brother Pvt Ltd. Swati holds a B.A. (Arch.) (Hons.) from Yale University, USA, and an M.Arch. from Columbia University, USA.

The Vimson Group was founded over 70 years ago in Goa. Its business interests include:

• Mineral development: V. M. Salgaocar and Bro. Pvt. Ltd. (with operations in India and Singapore) and V. M. Salgaocar Sales International engage in the mining, export, and trading of iron ore
• Real estate: The group spearheads mixed-use real estate development in Goa under the brand name Altura Spaces
• Financial services: Shivranjani Securities Pvt. Ltd. stands as Goa’s largest wealth management company, and Pyramid Finance Ltd. is an NBFC catering to small and medium enterprises

Recently, the Group diversified internationally through strategic investments in the Minerals Sector. They launched the Prospect Mining Studio, an accelerator supporting sustainable mining startups, and Minception, which offers consultancy services across the mining value chain. The philanthropic interests of the Group span sports and healthcare. The Salgaocar Football Club, founded in 1956, has clinched several national championships. Its lauded Youth Development and Community Outreach Programs benefit over 600 children annually. V.M. Salgaocar Hospital operates as a not-for-profit, 120-bed tertiary care, super-specialty healthcare center.

Ms. Salgaocar serves as the Deputy Chairperson of the CII Western Region. She was the Chairperson of the CII Goa State Council for 2022-23 and is a past Co-Chair of the CII Startups and Innovation Committee (Western Region). Throughout her career, she has held multiple positions on the Government of Goa Boards, including the Investment Promotion Board, Town & Country Planning Board, and Tourism Board. She's a member of the Governing Board and Chairperson of the Campus Development Committee at the Goa Institute of Management. Additionally, she sits on the Board of Avante Spaces, a part of Kirloskar Industries Limited.

An avid investor in early-stage companies, Ms. Salgaocar also contributes to the Advisory Boards of incubators like BITS BIRAC Bionest and AIC-GIM. Since 2015, she has co-directed the Yale India Alumni Schools Committee. She's an esteemed member of the Young Presidents’ Organisation and The Owners Forum.

Mr. Saurabh Kumar, aged 57, is an internationally recognised professional for his expertise in energy efficiency, clean energy, and creating innovative business models for large-scale, multinational organisations. He graduated in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and holds a Master’s in Public Policy from the National Graduate Institute of Policy Studies in Tokyo, Japan.

Mr. Kumar’s notable career includes his pivotal role in the setting up of Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), the world's largest Energy Service Company, renowned for its pioneering sustainable energy business models. As Managing Director of EESL, he played a key role in increasing EESL’s revenue from $1 million to $360 million, expanding its operations globally, especially in the UK, and launching projects in several countries, including the Maldives, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia.

Currently, Mr. Kumar is the Vice President of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), a position he's held since November 2022. Before this, he worked as a consultant for major organisations such as the World Bank, USAID, and GIZ, and held advisory positions with the Global Carbon Council and various energy companies. His prior roles include significantly shaping EESL in his earlier role as its Executive Vice Chairperson/Managing Director. He was also associated as the Business Head for Agrovoltaics & Microgrids at Reliance Industries Limited. His international experience is bolstered by his time with the UNEP Compliance Assistance Program in Bangkok. His early career saw him making substantial contributions to the Indian government in the Ministry of Power, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, and the Income Tax Department, demonstrating his diverse range of leadership, policy, and sector expertise.

Mr. Kumar’s extensive achievements in the energy sector are further highlighted by numerous prestigious awards and recognition:

• EESL, under his leadership, received the Best Public Sector Company Award from Forbes India in 2018.
• In 2017, he was a finalist in the 16th Asian Business Leaders Awards, recognising his significant influence in the Asian business sector.
• The Council of Power Utilities named him the Best CEO of the year in 2016, emphasising his exceptional leadership. That same year, he also received an award for promoting energy efficiency in India from the Central Board of Irrigation and Power.
• He was honoured with an Excellence in Governance award from GFiles publication.
• Under his direction, EESL was named the best procurement agency in India and South Asia by The World Bank.
• Since 2015, he has been an important member of the Industrial Energy Efficiency Advisory Board of the International Energy Agency in Paris.

These recognitions underscore Mr. Kumar's considerable impact in the energy sector and his dedication to promoting sustainable energy practices.