Raju steps into HAL cockpit, says he loves challenges

By Dr Anantha Krishnan M

https://twitter.com/writetake

Fifty-six-year-old Talari Suvarna Raju stepped into the cockpit of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) as its 17th Chairman on Saturday. Raju, who is currently the Director (Design) of HAL succeeds Dr R K Tyagi, who superannuated on January 31.

Widely believed as a taskmaster, Raju takes control of HAL at a time when the Company is gearing up to take the disinvestment route as mandated by the government. In addition to dealing with a set of independent and government-appointed Directors, Raju will have to spearhead the Company through a new set of rules that will eventually fall in place, thanks to the disinvestment.

While Raju’s leadership traits will right away fall on the radar of HAL’s biggest customer – the Indian Air Force – his biggest task will have to complete all pending projects.Speaking to OneIndia soon after taking charge, Raju said he is ‘not a man in a hurry.’ “I have not taken this responsibility with any magic wand in hand. I have come up the ranks seeing the pluses and minuses of this Company. My primary mission is to ensure that the Services get what they want. I also need to ensure that my people (workforce) stay as a focused family, keeping the HAL flag flying high,” Raju said.

(An abridged version of original report above. Read the comprehensive report
that went live on OneIndia on 31 Jan 2015 here: http://bit.ly/1EwgdTx)