BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Meher Pudumjee
CHAIRPERSON
Meher Pudumjee
CHAIRPERSON
Thermax Ltd, a company focused on providing energy and environment solutions.
A postgraduate in Chemical Engineering from the Imperial College of Science & Technology, London, Meher joined
Thermax as a trainee engineer in August 1990. A year later, along with her husband Pheroz Pudumjee, they took over the
responsibility of turning around a Thermax subsidiary company in the UK.
After her return to India in September 1996, she was appointed on the Board of Directors. With her newly acquired
interest in Finance, she worked closely with the treasury and working capital management functions of Thermax. She was
involved with overseeing a Joint Venture Company in the area of drinking water as well as the Air Pollution Control
businesses of the company. In January 2001 she became a non-executive director and was appointed Vice Chairperson in 2002. During this period she played an active role in the turnaround of Thermax. She took over as Chairperson on October
5, 2004, after the retirement of Mrs. Anu Aga.
Ms.Pudumjee represented India at the Asian Business Women’s Conference in Osaka in 2006. The World Economic Forum in
2008 selected her as a Young Global Leader for her professional accomplishment, commitment to society and potential to
contribute to shaping the future of the world. She was selected CEO of the Year, 2009 by Business Standard.
Ms. Pudumjee served as the Chairperson of Pune Zonal Council of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). When a
member of CII’s Young Indians, she chaired the National Employability initiative.
Meher has a keen interest in music, especially western classical and is a member of a Pune based choir. She lives in
Pune with her husband and has two children.
Pheroz Pudumjee
Pheroz Pudumjee has been the Non-Executive Director of the company since January 15, 2001.
He facilitates the company’s international initiatives, including the incubation and development of new businesses and
relevant organisational changes. In the past, Mr. Pudumjee managed Thermax’s overseas venture in the UK.
Mr. Pudumjee was the Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Pune. He was also a member of CII’S
National Committee on Export and a member of the Maratha Chamber of Commerce’s International panel.
He has a Master’s in Business Administration and a Diploma in Automobile Technology from Stanford University.
Ashish Bhandari
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
Ashish Bhandari
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
Managing Director & CEO of Thermax Group since 1st September 2020.
Ashish Bhandari has been at the helm of the Thermax Group as Managing Director and CEO since September 1, 2020. Under his leadership, the Group has been steadfast in advancing its strategic direction to become a trusted partner in energy transition and sustainability. With a focus on driving innovation and creating long-term value, Ashish spearheads initiatives to maintain Thermax’s leadership in energy and environment solutions. He is instrumental in strengthening global customer and partner relationships, steering the Group’s expansion into emerging sectors and markets, and adapting to evolving business models and industry trends to ensure the Group remains agile and future-ready.
A passionate advocate for innovation, Ashish drives Thermax’s global product and service development strategies, ensuring they align with the changing needs of industries and the broader goal of decarbonisation. Ashish has been at the forefront of Thermax’s digital transformation journey, leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as AI, IIoT, and data analytics to enhance product offerings and operational efficiency. His commitment to innovation is reshaping how Thermax delivers value to customers in an increasingly technology-driven world. He envisions that by 2030, a significant portion of Thermax’s portfolio will comprise businesses that are currently in nascent stages, reflecting his commitment to fostering growth in new areas.
Ashish brings over two decades of rich and diverse experience from world-leading organisations across industries. Before joining Thermax, he served as Vice President for India and South Asia regions at Baker Hughes (formerly a GE company), where he played a pivotal role in driving growth across the region. His 15-year tenure at GE included several senior leadership roles, building expertise in operational excellence and market expansion. Earlier in his career, he contributed to leading organisations such as Schlumberger, McKinsey & Company, and two international startups, giving him a unique perspective on global business dynamics.
Beyond his corporate endeavours, Ashish is known for his thought leadership in navigating complex industry landscapes. He is a member of CII’s National Committee where he co-chairs the Capital Goods Committee and various sub committees relating to startups in manufacturing, green energy, and biofuels.
Ashish holds a Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech) in Electrical Engineering from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, and an MBA from Duke University. His educational foundation, combined with his extensive professional experience, underpins his strategic leadership at Thermax.
Harsh Mariwala
INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
Harsh Mariwala
INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
He is the Chairman of Marico Limited, and is also Chairman & Managing Director of its wholly owned subsidiary, Kaya
Limited. Mr. Mariwala has transformed Marico, a traditional commodities driven business into a leading consumer products
and services company in the beauty and wellness space. From a turnover of Rs. 50 lakhs in 1971, Marico’s products
generated a turnover of INR 6,132 crores during 2015-16. The company has won several awards and recognition under his
leadership. He established the Marico Innovation Foundation in 2003 to fuel innovation in India. He started ASCENT in
2012, a not-for-profit and unique peer-to- peer platform for high potential entrepreneurs to exchange experiences and
ideas.
Mr. Mariwala was the President of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in 2011. He has been a
part of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), held the position of YPO Education, Membership and Chapter Chair for
the Bombay Chapter, and was a member of the International Forum Board of YPO International. He is now a part of the
World Presidents Organization (WPO).
INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
He is Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India having qualified in the year 1973. He spent most of his
career with Ernst & Young and its Indian member firm, S. R. Batliboi & Co., Chartered Accountants, and its
predecessor firm, Arthur Young, being a partner from 1974 to 2003.
He has contributed to the accounting profession, being a speaker or the chairperson at a large number of professional
conferences in India and abroad.
As a philanthropist, he is actively involved with Childline, an all-India NGO for abused and distressed children. He is
also Honorary Treasurer of the Indian Red Cross, Maharashtra and a trustee of the Narielvala Fire Temple in Mumbai.
Since 2003 Mr. Mirza has been involved in the movement for improved governance in the corporate sector. He is also
involved in propagating knowledge of the threat to humankind from climate change and an appropriate
response.
Dr.S. B. Pandit
He is the co-founder, chairman and group CEO of KPIT Technologies Ltd. His vision has steered the company from product
engineering, IT consulting and services, to three industries namely automotive & transportation, manufacturing and
energy & utilities.
He is a gold medalist and member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, an associate member of the
Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India, and holds a master from Sloan School of Management, MIT, Cambridge,
USA. In 2014, Tilak Maharashtra University decorated him with an honorary D.Litt.
Having run a Chartered Accountancy firm for close to a decade after finishing his master’s studies, Mr. Pandit decided
to venture into information technology consulting and services, thus setting up KPIT with his co-founder in 1990.
For his commitment to conducting business in an ethical manner and for the value KPIT partnership has brought to
Cummins, Mr. Pandit was honoured with the J Irwin Miller Award of Excellence by Cummins. He has also been conferred the
Rotary Excellence Award, Maharashtra Corporate Excellence (MAXELL) Award and the Samata Award.
Ravi is a founder trustee of NGO Janwani which focuses on improvements in urban India. He is a founder trustee of the
Pune International Centre, a national level think tank working on policy issues. Mr. Pandit was a member of the
Government of India’s Automotive Research Program Committee and on DST’s Technology Development Board. He has served as
the president of the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture and has been on the NASSCOM executive
council twice.
Rajani Kesari
Ms. Rajani Kesari has been an
Independent Director of the company since November 14, 2018.
She is currently the CFO of
Nayara Energy Limited. Nayara is a downstream oil company operating the second largest single-site refinery in India
and contributes to 8% of the refinery capacity of India. Prior to this, she was the CFO for Holcim India, handling
finance for listed entities of Ambuja Cements and ACC Limited.
Rajani has diverse experience
in strategic planning, business partnering, M & A, internal audit, taxation and investor relations. She has also
played a very meaningful role in driving business impact both in India and overseas.
She is a commerce graduate,
Chartered Accountant, Cost Accountant and Certified Public Accountant from the US.
INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
company since January 31, 2003.
He is also Managing Director of Elgi Equipments Ltd. and is also on the Board of Elgi Rubber Company Ltd., Precot
Meridian Ltd., Magna Electro Castings Ltd, Elgi Sauer Compressors Ltd, Elgi Ultra Industries Ltd., Elgi Ultra Ltd., Dark
Horse Portfolio Investment Ltd. and ATS Elgi Ltd.
He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from George Washington University, USA and Ph.D. in International
Business from the University of Michigan, USA. He has varied experience covering textiles, polymers, mechanical machines
and consumer appliances.
Dr. Varadaraj has spent about four years in teaching and research in the United States, studying computerized marketing
simulation as well as researching Euro-bond markets. He has also conducted research studies on international financial
markets, joint ventures, corporate strategy and technology transfers in the United States. He was the Chairman of the
Tamil Nadu State Committee of CII.
Dr. Ravi Gopinath
INDEPENDENT
DIRECTOR
Dr. Ravi Gopinath
INDEPENDENT
DIRECTOR
company.
He is also the Chief Strategy Officer at AVEVA plc, a FTSE listed software company. He joined AVEVA in 2018 through the
merger of Schneider Electric Software with AVEVA. Prior to the merger, he was the Executive Vice President of Schneider
Electric Software. He joined Schneider Electric in 2014 following the acquisition of Invensys plc by Schneider Electric,
where he was President of Invensys Software.
He started his career as a research scientist in Tata Consultancy Services in 1994 and eventually led the global
Engineering Business and the Manufacturing Practice for the company. He left TCS in 2006 and joined Geometric Ltd. as
the MD and CEO. He held that role from 2006 to 2009, when he joined Invensys.
Dr. Gopinath holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York and a M. Tech in
Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology
Bombay.
Mr. Shyamak R Tata
INDEPENDENT
DIRECTOR
Mr. Shyamak R Tata
INDEPENDENT
DIRECTOR
He has over 35 years of experience serving large Indian and multinational companies. Currently, he serves as an
Independent Director for Siemens Limited and its subsidiary, C&S Electric Limited, and for HDFC AMC International
(IFSC) Limited.
He was the Chairman of Deloitte India from 2019-2021. As Chairman, his role included heading governance for the
organisation and leading the Board. Apart from this, the broader Board directive entailed overseeing sustainability
initiatives, emerging technologies and opportunities, talent and culture.
Shyamak has been an elected Board member for over 12 years, and, in this role earlier, was also a member of the Chairman
and CEO Evaluations Committee of the Board. During the period, Shyamak also served on the Deloitte Asia Pacific Board
and was also a member of its Succession & Nominating Committee and the Board Transformation Committees.
In his executive roles at Deloitte India, Shyamak had led the Audit & Assurance (A&A) practice at the critical
time of India’s first ever mandatory auditor rotation transition. As the A&A leader, he was a key member of Deloitte
India’s Executive team, and was also part of Deloitte’s Global Audit and Assurance Leadership Team.
Shyamak has extensive industry experience in consumer business, manufacturing, automotive, metals and mining, and
telecom, with a focus on audit and assurance engagements, accounting advisory, due diligence reviews, business and share
valuations, international offerings, and Sarbanes readiness work.
A Commerce graduate from Mumbai University, Shyamak is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of
India, a Certified Information Systems Auditor, and a Company Secretary.
Mr. Parag Shah
INDEPENDENT
DIRECTOR
Mr. Parag Shah
INDEPENDENT
DIRECTOR
He is the Founder and Partner of Amara Partners, an early-stage Private Equity fund that provides growth capital to businesses and supports entrepreneurs in business transformation, innovation, change management and institutionalisation.
Prior to this venture, in a career spanning over 25 years, Parag has held various positions with the Mahindra Group. He has extensive experience in building new businesses, start-ups, turnarounds, joint ventures, and mergers & acquisitions. In his last role, he was a Member of the Group Executive Board and Head of Mahindra Accelo. Parag was one of the chief architects and Managing Partner of Mahindra Partners, the 1 Bn USD Private Equity and Venture Capital division of the Group, which was responsible for incubation, turnaround and investments in several sectors like cleantech, retail, boat manufacturing, consulting, media, healthcare, conveyor systems, AI & analytics. He was an Executive Committee member of various councils of Mahindra Learning University. He was the Group Lead for business representation in Israel.
Parag is also the Director of several companies such as Mahindra Accelo, Mahindra Waste to Energy, Indian and Eastern Engineer Company, MME (Sharjah), PT MASI (Indonesia), Global Chess League (Geneva) and PSL Media & Communication. He is also an Independent Director on the board of HDFC AMC Ltd. and Lumax Auto Technologies.
He is active in industry bodies like CII, FICCI, American Alumni Association, and TiE Mumbai, and is a frequent speaker at industry and academic forums. He has been recognised by Economic Times & Spencer Stuart as India’s Top 40 Business Leaders under the age of 40. He was also featured by India Today as ‘Leaders of Tomorrow’ in their anniversary issue.
Parag has been an Executive Committee Member of the CII National Committee on Private Equity and Venture Capital, FICCI Solar Energy Task Force, CII National Committee on Renewable Energy, American Alumni Association, CII National Healthcare Council in addition to other external associations. He is also an angel investor and is on the advisory board of Trustees of The IndUS Entrepreneurs, Mumbai (TiE).
He is affiliated with various NGO associations such as Sabarkanta Relief Committee and S&G Charitable Trust. He has also been a Founder Director of “Executives Without Borders”, an NGO based in USA.
Parag holds a BS Degree in Computer Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology with special electives in Psychology and Manufacturing Technology. He is also a graduate of the General Management Program from the Harvard Business School.
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Executive Vice President , Industrial Products
Vice President Group Business Head for the Environment Business Unit, and a member of the Executive Council of the
Thermax Group in May 2019.
Bill joined from Martin Engineering India where he was the Managing Director for five years.
Before this, in a career spanning over 20 years, Bill has worked with Terex, Konecranes and Kone Elevators including
assignments in Australia for several years. Bill brings to Thermax his varied experience in greenfield startup, sales
marketing, project management, business strategy and operations, apart from an experience of working with stakeholders
in multiple geographies.
A B.E. in Mechanical Engineering from the Manipal Institute of Technology, Bill has also completed a Senior Leadership
Program from IIM Ahmedabad.
Ashish Bhandari
MANAGING DIRECTOR
& CEO
Ashish Bhandari
MANAGING DIRECTOR
& CEO
Managing Director & CEO of Thermax Group since 1st September, 2020.
Before joining Thermax, Mr. Bhandari was the Vice President – India and South Asia region at Baker Hughes (formerly a GE
company). He joined GE in 2005 in Houston, USA and relocated to Gurgaon in 2011. He is credited with building GE Oil and
Gas into one of GE’s biggest businesses in India and for the successful integration of Baker Hughes and GE Oil and Gas
during a time of significant transition. Over his 15-year GE career, Mr. Bhandari has worked in a variety of industrial
businesses including GE Enterprise Solutions, GE Energy, and GE Oil and Gas. He has been instrumental in consolidating
legacy businesses and at the same time looking at new technologies and opportunities for growth.
His prior work experience includes Schlumberger, consulting with McKinsey & Co. and two start-ups overseas.
Mr. Bhandari completed his Bachelor of Technology in Electrical Engineering (B Tech) from the Indian Institute of
Technology, Mumbai. He received his master’s degree in Business Administration from Duke
University.
B C Mahesh
President – Industrial
Products Business
B C Mahesh
President – Industrial
Products Business
responsible for the Industrial Product Business (IPB), which consists of Process Heating, Absorption Cooling &
Heating Solutions, Water and Waste Solutions, Air Pollution Control, Steam Engineering, Channel Business Group,
International Business Group, and Enterprise Sales businesses. As part of IPB, he also oversees the following
wholly-owned subsidiaries of Thermax – Danstoker, PT Thermax International Indonesia and Rifox.
Mahesh joined Thermax as a graduate trainee in 1988 and handled the Materials function for various businesses, including
global sourcing, till 1996. He moved to the Power division (P&ES) and grew to the position of Sales Head and
subsequently Head of Projects. He took over as the Head of the SBU for Medium Power Plants in 2009 and finally as Head
of Power business in 2012. Mahesh has worked with Thermax for over 30 years in many functions such as manufacturing,
supply chain, sales and marketing, and project management, and has played a significant role in the strategy, expansion
and diversification of the Power business.
Mahesh completed his Mechanical Engineering from the Visvesvaraya Regional College of Engineering, Nagpur in 1988.
B C Rajesh
Executive Vice President
and CEO – TBWES
B C Rajesh
Executive Vice President
and CEO – TBWES
Thermax Executive Council.
He has over 28 years of global professional experience spanning the projects, products and services industries across
functions. Prior to joining Thermax, he was working with Mahindra Teqo, Mumbai as the Chief Executive Officer. Besides
Thermax, his earlier stints have been with PT Kaltimex Energi where he managed business development and regional
operations for steam turbine generator packages, and Gherzi Eastern Limited, where he provided project management
advisory services, collaborating closely with multinational clients.
During his stint at Thermax, he was instrumental in handling large projects in P&ES. He also led the Operations and
Maintenance (O&M) business, overseeing substantial advancements. Later, he took over as the SBU Head of Services
business at TBWES. Under his leadership, the SBU built a substantial business of parts, Pure Services & Digital.
Rajesh has earned his Bachelor’s in Engineering & Master’s in Construction & Project Management from the
National Institute of Construction Management and Research (NICMAR). Additionally, he has also completed the Executive
programme in Applied Finance from the Indian Institute of Management – Calcutta (IIMC).
Dinesh Mandhana
Executive Vice
President and BU Head – Chemical
Dinesh Mandhana
Executive Vice
President and BU Head – Chemical
appointed as a member of the Executive Council in July 2022 and is the Business Unit Head for the Chemical division at
Thermax. Additionally, he serves as a Director on the Board of Thermax Inc. (USA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
company.
He has been with Thermax for over 13 years and has a rich experience of over two decades in manufacturing, management,
procurement, project management, engineering, business development and strategy. Before joining Thermax in 2008, Dinesh
worked with Ion Exchange Ltd. and CIBA.
At Thermax, he has helmed multiple roles in the Chemical business. Dinesh was instrumental in establishing the Jhagadia
plant for specialty chemicals. He was also responsible for the overall operations of the business, expanding the ion
exchange resins capacity at Dahej, and diversifying the business. Prior to his current role, he was the SBU Head of the
Chemical business.
Dinesh is a Chemical Engineering graduate from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad. He has also
completed the leadership development programme from the Indian School of Business,
Hyderabad.
Jasmeet Bhatia
Executive Vice
President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Jasmeet Bhatia
Executive Vice
President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Thermax Group since November 2020 and a member of the Thermax Executive Council. In addition to HR, he is responsible for Employee Relations and Admin.
Jasmeet Bhatia has been serving as the Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of the Thermax Group since November 2020. A member of the Thermax Executive Council, he oversees Human Resources, Employee Relations, and Administration for the organisation.
With over 25 years of experience, Jasmeet is an HR leader with expertise in strategic leadership, HR technology and analytics, talent management, workforce planning, organisational development, and succession planning. He has a proven track record of implementing HR change management initiatives, fostering harmonious industrial relations, and creating safe and inclusive workplaces.
Jasmeet began his career in 1999 with IT organisations like CES and Mphasis before transitioning to Ma Foi Consulting in 2006. He joined Honeywell in 2007, where he held various HR leadership roles until 2015. Subsequently, he moved to Valvoline and later Carrier Air-Conditioning, where he served as the India CHRO. At Carrier, he advanced to lead HR for Southeast Asia, India, and Australia before joining Thermax.
Beyond his professional role, Jasmeet serves on the board of the Thermax Foundation, further contributing to the organisation’s social initiatives.
A graduate in Computer Science from Delhi University, Jasmeet also holds an MBA in Human Resources from the Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon. His unique approach to HR, combining analytics, creative thinking, and business alignment, sets him apart as a leader.
Kirtiraj Jilkar
Executive Vice
President and BU Head – P&ES
Kirtiraj Jilkar
Executive Vice
President and BU Head – P&ES
Business Unit head for Projects and Energy Solutions (P&ES). He has worked with Thermax for over 25 years and has
held multiple roles.
He joined Thermax as an MBA graduate in 1995 in TBWES (formerly TBW), as a Product Manager for Oil and Gas fired boilers
and has risen through the ranks to hold critical positions. He moved to the Cogen division in 1997 to handle the
business development for the power portfolio. After successfully pioneering the EPC concept sale in the industrial
captive power space in India he was chosen to lead international sales in 2005. Post this successful stint, he handled
the Large Power Plant SBU as the Operations Head in 2010.
Prior to his current role, he was instrumental in turning around the solar renewables portfolio and strategically
growing the Power-O&M business as the SBU Head.
Adept with business strategy, operations planning and control, global business development, service delivery and asset
integrity, Kirtiraj overlooks the operations of over 100 plants across three continents.
He completed his Mechanical Engineering and MBA from the Maharashtra Institute of Technology and the Institute of
Business Management and Research – Pune, respectively.
Pravin Karve
Babcock and Wilcox Energy Solutions (TBWES) Limited as the President. He
has worked with Thermax for over 37 years and has held many roles in these years.
Pravin joined Thermax as a Graduate Trainee Engineer in 1984 and has worked in various functions like sales, proposals,
field sales, international marketing, sourcing, operations, etc. He was part of the core team leading the company’s
transformation initiatives. Before taking over the current role, he was the Chief Executive Officer of TBWES. Prior to
this, he was the Business Unit Head for Boiler & Heater (TBWES) division and has also headed the Air Pollution
Control (Enviro) business.
Pravin is a certified Executive Coach and works very closely with emerging leaders to help them exceed their potential
by working on their inner transformation. He is also an active volunteer with The Art of Living Foundation.
Pravin completed his Mechanical Engineering from Walchand College of Engineering, Sangli, in 1984.
Rajendran Arunachalam
Executive Vice
President and Group Chief Financial Officer
Rajendran Arunachalam
Executive Vice
President and Group Chief Financial Officer
Thermax Group CFO on 1st June 2019. He joined Thermax as the Executive Vice President (EVP) – Finance and a member of the Executive Council of Thermax Group in March 2019.
Rajendran Arunachalam has been serving as the Executive Vice President – Finance and Group Chief Financial Officer and has been a member of the Executive Council since March 2019. A seasoned professional with over 30 years of industry experience, he began his journey with Thermax in 1993 as a Management Trainee, progressing to become Finance Controller for the erstwhile Chemical and Power divisions. Rajendran later worked with Tata AutoComp Systems from 2008 to 2013, where he held senior financial roles, and at Gabriel India Ltd. as the CFO where he oversaw Finance, Secretarial, Legal, and IT functions before rejoining Thermax in 2019.
Rajendran is known for his strategic leadership across finance, shared services, legal, corporate secretarial, EXIM, and enterprise risk management. His extensive skill set includes business planning, shared services setup, fundraising, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and enterprise risk management.
In addition to his corporate accomplishments, Rajendran has contributed to industry thought leadership as Chair of the Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) Maharashtra State Council Finance Forum, Chair of CII CFO Forum of Western Region and Pune, and as a National Committee Member of CII’s Total Cost Management initiative. He has also been honoured with the CFO of the Year Award in the Industrial Manufacturing Sector by CII in 2022.
Rajendran is a Certified Public Accountant from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), USA, a Fellow Certified Management Accountant (FCMA), and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) from AICPA and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) respectively. He also holds a Master’s in Management Studies (MMS), an Integrated Programme of Engineering & Management from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS Pilani) and attended the Advanced Management & Leadership Programme from Oxford University, UK.
Dr. Amit Sethi
Executive Vice
President and Chief Digital and Information Officer
Dr. Amit Sethi
Executive Vice
President and Chief Digital and Information Officer
and Chief Digital and Information Officer since October 2022. He is also a member of the Thermax Executive Council.
Dr. Amit Sethi has been the Executive Vice President and Chief Digital & Information Officer, serving as a member of the Thermax Executive Council since October 2022. With over 25 years of global experience, he brings expertise in digital and IT strategy execution, cybersecurity, P&L leadership, Industry 4.0, SaaS solutions, ERP systems, and emerging digital technologies. His deep domain knowledge and ability to align IT initiatives with business goals play a key role in Thermax’s digital transformation journey.
His earlier professional journey included pivotal roles as the Vice President and Regional CIO for MENAT and India at Baker Hughes, where he led strategic IT initiatives and served as a board member of the Petroleum Industry Data Exchange (PIDX International). At GE Oil & Gas, he was Regional CIO, focussing on innovative IT solutions. He has also held leadership positions at CSC, Genpact, and PwC, driving key projects in consulting and digital transformation.ry.
A customer-centric leader, Dr. Amit has consistently demonstrated his ability to drive innovation and operational excellence. Beyond his professional responsibilities, he has co-chaired the CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) Western Region CDIO Forum since October 2024 and is the Founder and Director of the Green Ecospace Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation committed to road safety, cleanliness, and medical support initiatives.
His achievements have been recognised through several prestigious awards, including the Trailblazer CIO of the Year 2024 by IDC, the NASSCOM AI Gamechanger Award – Challenger 2024, and multiple leadership accolades such as the Best People Leader Award from GE Digital Technology Leadership Programme in 2018 and 2019. Additionally, he has also received the Strategic Initiatives Excellence Award from GE Oil & Gas in 2016 and the Diamond Award from Genpact in 2009.
Dr. Amit holds a PhD in Marketing and a PGDM (MBA) degree in Marketing and System, both from IIM Lucknow, and a B. Tech in Electrical Engineering from VJTI, Mumbai. He has also completed specialised management programmes from GE Crotonville and Baker Hughes.
Dr. Santanu Chaudhuri
Chief Technology
Officer
Dr. Santanu Chaudhuri
Chief Technology
Officer
of Thermax in October 2024.
Dr. Santanu has over 27 years of global experience, spanning leading academic institutions and national research
laboratories. Before joining Thermax, he served as a Professor of Materials and Chemical Engineering at the University
of Illinois Chicago. His previous roles include positions at Argonne National Laboratory, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, Washington State University, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and Alumnus Software Limited.
His professional portfolio spans from managing large-scale R&D initiatives to overseeing multi-million-dollar
portfolios in applied energy technologies. His success in building public-private partnerships, securing over $54.5
million in funding proposals from prestigious organisations, and other similar achievements are a testament to his
expertise. As a director at Argonne National Laboratories Manufacturing Science and Engineering, he led efforts for
faster deployment of energy systems in collaboration with the US Department of Energy and Industries. He has been
working on hydrogen and conversion technologies since 2003 and spearheaded the development of autonomous Al-enabled
laboratories and digitised the materials scale-up and roll-to-roll coating environments for energy systems.
Dr. Santanu has completed his Bachelor of Science with honours in Maths, Physics and Industrial Chemistry from Calcutta
University’s SAJ College. He also holds an Advanced Diploma in Software Engineering from APTECH and PACE University (NY)
and studied business management at the Post-graduate Institute of Management, Kolkata. Additionally, he is a PhD holder
in Materials and Computational Chemistry from the State University of New York at Stony Brook working on catalysts,
battery materials, and ionic conductors.
Arun Unni
Executive Vice President and Business Head – New Energy & Head of Strategy for Thermax
Arun Unni
Executive Vice President and Business Head – New Energy & Head of Strategy for Thermax
Before joining Thermax, Arun was working at Kearney, Mumbai, as a Senior Partner, Energy and Process Industries and as Head, Sustainability for the APAC region. He has also held key positions as Chief Content Officer at TATA Sky, Management Consultant at KPMG Advisory, and Arthur Andersen. Arun’s involvement in the renewable energy industry started when it was at a very nascent stage in the country, and he has remained closely connected to the energy ecosystem throughout his career.
In his dual stint at Kearney, Arun has helped organisations in establishing and leading decarbonisation and sustainability practices for the oil & gas, steel, and cement sectors. Arun’s expertise extends across process electrification, biofuels, and carbon capture.
An active thought leader, Arun has been actively involved in providing policy inputs to the Energy Transition Advisory Committee, Ministry of Steel (MOS), Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), India CEO Climate Alliance, and the World Economic Forum (WEF), focussing on India’s net zero and Scope 3 pathways. Additionally, he has significant experience in M&A, technology partnerships, and operational transformation in both renewable and conventional power businesses.
Arun holds a Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.