| GMR Holding Board |
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G.M. Rao
Group Chairman - GMR Group |
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G M Rao, a mechanical engineer, is the founder Chairman of GMR
Group, the Bangalore based global Infrastructure major. The Group is well
diversified and professionally managed with focus on business verticals of
Airports, Energy, Highways and Urban Infrastructure including SEZs, apart from
interests in Agri-business.
Born in a small town of Rajam in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, G M
Rao established the GMR business empire starting from a single jute mill in
Rajam in 1978. |
A visionary businessman, G M Rao recognised the huge business
potential in entering the infrastructure space, with the opening up of the power
sector in the 90s in India. Within a decade, he successfully established three
greenfield power plants in the country, one each in the state of Tamil Nadu,
Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Under his guidance, the Group is now developing
several power projects in various parts of India & abroad and is also expanding
its presence globally. The Group has thirteen power projects of which three are
operational with a capacity of 808 MW and ten project are under various stages
of implementation both in Hydel and Thermal Power. Going forward the Energy
sector will have a capacity of 8448 MW.
G M Rao expanded the Groups presence in the infrastructure sector by leading
the Groups foray into Highways. The Group has already completed six road
projects. It has recently won three road projects, the 181km HyderabadVijayawada
project in Andhra Pradesh on toll basis; 29km Chennai Outer Ring Road state
project in Tamil Nadu on annuity basis and the 99 km Hungund-Hospet stretch in
Karnataka on toll basis.
Realising that Airports will drive the economy in the 21st century, G M Rao
spearheaded the Groups entry into the high profile airport business. Under his
leadership the Group has developed the new Greenfield International Airport at
Hyderabad, and has modernised the Delhi International Airport by constructing a
world-class integrated terminal 3 (T3) which was inaugurated on 3rd July, 2010.
Under G M Raos visionary leadership, the Group commissioned the brand new
Sabiha Gokcen International (SGA) airport terminal at Istanbul, Turkey on 31st
October, 2009. The project marking the Groups maiden global foray, was
completed in a record time of 18 months, a year ahead of schedule, as stipulated
in the concession agreement. Recently the Group has won the bid to build,
operate, modernize and expand the MALE International Airport (MIA), Maldives on
29th June, 2010.
The Group has also ventured into the new business sector of Urban Infrastructure
and is in the process of setting up a 3300 acre multi-product SEZ in Krishnagiri
District of Tamil Nadu.
With a strong desire to serve the needs of the marginalised sections and the
rural society, Rao set up the GMR Varalakshmi Foundation, to raise their living
standards. The Foundation is active in the areas of education, health and
hygiene, community development and empowerment.
G M Rao has today successfully established GMR Group, as one of the leading
infrastructure organisations in the country. His commitment to the core
infrastructure sector has resulted in the Group exiting some of the highly
lucrative businesses of banking, insurance, breweries and jute. Rao was the
largest shareholder in the countrys leading 75-year-old private sector Vysya
Bank, which has been successfully transformed into a modern technology driven
and hugely successful financial enterprise. For his visionary approach and
outstanding contribution to ING Vysya Bank for a period of two decades as its
Director and Chairman, the Bank in September 2006 conferred on him the status
and title of Chairman Emeritus. For his exemplary entrepreneurial/industrial
achievements, he has received an honorary Doctorate from the Jawaharlal Nehru
Technological University, Hyderabad, India. He has also been conferred the
honorary degree of Doctor of Letters from the Andhra University.
He was chosen as the Entrepreneur of the year at the Economic Times Awards for
Corporate Excellence 2006 07. The award has been given to him in recognition
of his exemplary entrepreneurial spirit and potential in breaking into the big
league of top infrastructure organisations in India. He has also been awarded
the `Most Promising Entrant to the Big League by CNBC TV18 at its `Indian
Business Leader Awards 2007. On 12th March, 2009, he received the
Infrastructure Person (Infra Person) of the year award at the Infrastructure
Journal Award Ceremony held in London. The award was bestowed on him for the
Groups US$1.1bn acquisition of a 50% stake in InterGen N.V., a leading global
power generation company, with 12 operating power plants located across five
countries.
Mr. G M Rao is also the recipient of the Sir. M. Visveswaraiah Award - 2008
instituted by the Federation of Karnataka Chamber Of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI)
and the Most Inspiring Entrepreneur of the Year 2008 award by National
Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Mumbai. He received the award for
the First Generation Entrepreneur of the Year at the CNBC TV18 India Business
Leader Awards 2009.
To face the challenges of tomorrow and meet the future needs of a fast
developing country like India, G M Rao has laid a strong emphasis in building a
transparent and system driven organisation. While a set of seven core values
define the GMR Groups distinct organisation culture, Rao has also spearheaded a
Family Constitution model for the group. The aim of this is to ensure a smooth
transition of business from generation to generation, and enable professionals
to discharge their rightful roles in the growth and development of the Group. In
line with this, over a period of time, the members of the family would provide
only the strategic inputs and investment needs and counseling for all the
businesses and activities of the Group.
G M Raos thrust is on combining the best of entrepreneurial spirit with a
dynamic team of professional managers who work in an enabling and vibrant
organisational culture, to sustain and consistently meet his vision for the
Group of Building Entrepreneurial organisations that make a difference to
society through Creation of Value. |
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