Double role: HAL makes its marketing head in charge of Helicopter Complex (HC) too; MD (HC) goes on leave sighting health reasons

By Anantha Krishnan M. | Aviation Week |

Bangalore | India | August 05, 2010

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.’s Helicopter Complex (HC) in Bengaluru has a new chief, P. Soundara Rajan, who is also director of marketing and corporate planning at HAL’s headquarters.
AVIATION WEEK has learned from HAL insiders that Soundara assumed his additional responsibilities on Aug. 3, though HAL has yet to issue any formal announcement.
This comes in the wake of current managing director R. Srinivasan going on extended leave, citing health reasons.
The appointment is a crucial one, as the HC faces the herculean task of meeting the demands of the Indian armed forces, with most of its chopper programs lagging behind schedule. In addition to the HC’s flagship product — the Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), which has now found a place in the international market — the company also has embarked upon ambitious programs like the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Light Utility Helicopter (LUH).

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Coming soon: Status of ALH program, post CAG rap