Pawan Goenka, 56
Profile: President, automotive sector, Mahindra & Mahindra
Experience: A former General Motors executive
Key Challenge: Building in-house research and development capability, taking the company’s products to global markets
Strategy: Giving direction to existing businesses and identifying new avenues of growth
In my current role, I am not responsible for the day-to-day operations of any of the businesses that form Automotive and Farm Equipment Sectors [AFES] of the Mahindra Group, but for providing a common thread and getting involved more in direction. This includes setting strategy, budgeting, the HR [human resources] side and looking at new areas of growth, both organic and inorganic. The way we are structured, we have five chief executives [CEs] responsible for running different sets of businesses. I do get more involved in some of the new initiatives that we have taken, like Ssangyong or Mahindra Navistar JVs.
Check out our Festive offers upto Rs.1000/- off website prices on subscriptions + Gift card worth Rs 500/- from Eatbetterco.com. Click here to know more.
(This story appears in the 12 August, 2011 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)
it was amazing to hear you today sir. was like dream come true to get a chance to present something we developed to you. though my presentation was was much below my expectation and preparation, but still it\'s a great day for me. Have learned a lot in that 5minutes. thank you sir.
on Mar 19, 2014Mr Goenka raises an interesting conundrum -- if we spend all of our time working what do we do about our spirit, family, health and other relationships (eg friends) ? He has chosen to forsake it all for the sake of a job which is both depressing as it is borderline autistic. As a senior leader in one of India's leading organizations, Mr Goenka should be setting an example -- how to run a company and still have a few hours a day free for oneself ? Instead this story reads like what every "lala" wants to hear -- worker working himself to the bone and making every one else below him do the same. Fortunately, Anand Mahindra is known as a progressive leader, with a nuanced sense of building a tremendous culture. In my view, Mr Goenka should be put on a performance improvement plan -- lead like a leader, not like middle manager or retire early and let someone more balanced, more dynamic, more progressive take the reins. BTW I run a 2000 crore publicly listed company with 4000 person team (small by comparison) but if I pulled a stunt like the story above, I wonder how long before my bosses make me the Head of Corporate Strategy enroute to oblivion.
on Oct 15, 2013Mr Pawan Sir I have seen you on 22th April 2012, in Annual conffrence meet at Mumbai. Your 10 minute speech was very much effective for us. This is the my dream that I want to be a business man like you.
on Apr 24, 2012Article is open oneself to balance between corporate professional life and family life, I found it same though I am from Finance background. No body is called successful if he does not balance his life that is what we could learn from the experiences of Big shots, my wife use to compare with my co-brother who is big shot in corporate world who normally assist his wife during her cooking management and that togetherness brings happiness in the family instead of reading paper,magazine etc.
on Nov 2, 2011You need the real good blend of Discipline as per the detail above and most importantly the support of near and dear to perfrom at work for such long hours on enduring basis..Such focus is probably being reflected in the results in stock price of M & M.
on Aug 10, 2011