Venkataramani Sumantran

Dr. Venkataramani Sumantran is the Chairman and Non-Executive Independent Director of the Company. Dr. Sumantran, is a business leader, technocrat and academic, having worked in the USA, Europe, and Asia through a career spanning over 37 years. He is currently the Chairman and Managing Director of Celeris Technologies, a strategic advisory firm engaged in the domains of automotive, mobility, digital transformation, and technologies. He also serves on the Boards of Rane Holdings Limited, and TVS Electronics Limited.

Until 2014, he was the Executive Vice-Chairman of Hinduja Automotive (UK) and the Vice Chairman of Ashok Leyland Limited. Previously, from 2001 to 2005, Dr. Sumantran was the Executive Director at Tata Motors Limited and Chief Executive of the Passenger Car Business during its formative years. Earlier, Dr. Sumantran had a 16-year career with General Motors, starting in the Research & Development (R&D) Centre in Detroit and subsequently as Director, Advanced Engineering at General Motors, Europe. He has served on the Science Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India, and the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Indian Cabinet. Most recently, he served as the Lead-Member of the Consultative Group on Future Transportation at the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India. He also served as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at IIT Madras and Adjunct Professor at MIT MISI.

A recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award at IIT Madras, Dr. Sumantran went on to acquire a PhD degree in Aerospace Engineering and a Master’s degree in Management of Technology. He obtained his private pilot’s licence at the age of 19 years, and has remained a keen follower of aviation and aerospace technologies.