Shri Ravindra Chandra Bhargava, Chairman, Maruti Suzuki
Best known as an entrepreneurial scientist and reputed in industry circles as a veteran at planning and strategy, Shri Bhargava is, above all a great humanist. As the former C.E.O and Current Chairman, Maruti Suzuki, the largest automobile manufacturers in India, he has an illustrious career of exceptional diligence and hard work.
Not surprisingly, he was awarded the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India: the Padma Bhushan. In the past, Shri Bhargava served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of RCB Consulting Pvt. Ltd and has also had a distinguished career in the Civil Services.
He has held several senior positions with the Government of India including the Joint Secretary in Ministry of Energy and Joint Secretary in Cabinet Secretariat. He has also served as the Director of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited and as the Chief Managing Director at Maruti Udyog Limited. Since childhood he had demonstrated great leadership qualities, well exemplified during his years as Alumni of Williams College, Massachusetts. His friends at Maruti Udyog Limited nicknamed him ‘Kaedo’, as he displayed austere habits.
His acute insight and sharply honed analytical skills has helped millions of middle class Indians fulfill their dream of owning a car. In fact, it was he who had made India realize its true potential as a global hub for manufacturing.
An extremely humble person, it was under his tutelage that Maruti has evolved over the past three decades – first under government control and then as a company to decisively place India on the motorization map of the world. His adherence to punctuality made all the difference in his and his colleagues’ professional life. Despite his extensive schedule, he has managed to co-author a book, ‘The Maruti Story’, and has penned articles for a Japanese publication. To many, he is a successful samurai, steering placidly through life’s trials and tribulations, only to emerge as a winner all the way.
