GFG Alliance has appointed Mahendra Singh Mehta, one of India’s most experienced and senior industrial leaders to oversee the establishment of its fast-growing business across India.
Mr Mehta, former CEO of Anil Agarwal’s global natural resources and metals group Vedanta, and more recently CEO of Reliance Infrastructure now becomes GFG’s Country Head for India, responsible for building the group’s business across the country this will include building corporate governance structure for the group.
The announcement comes only days after the NCLT made orders clearing the way for the Liberty House Group, part of the GFG Alliance, to acquire automotive component giant, Amtek Auto, and steel manufacturer Adhunik Metaliks, with a combined Indian workforce of more than 7,000 people. This will take GFG’s global workforce to c 21,000 and its turnover to c US$ 17 billion.
GFG, whose business spans metal manufacturing, engineering, energy, financial services and property will shortly unveil executive lead teams in India for each of its business divisions, comprising senior professionals from across industry.
The group also plans to announce an advisory board for GFG India and that will provide governance, strategic advice to the group and its executives in India help them navigate its fast changing business and political environment. Members will include highly-credible individuals regarded as stalwarts of industry, banking and law.
Mr Mehta said: “It’s a privilege to be given the responsibility to help launch and establish Liberty and GFG in India, particularly given the recent outstanding and ground-breaking achievements of the group globally. I’m looking forward to leading the development of the group in India as it quickly becomes a valuable and prominent part of the industrial landscape here.”
Mr. Mehta has more than 36 years’ experience in operations, strategy and business turnaround in sectors spanning steel, non-ferrous metals, mining, power generation and distribution, infrastructure and cement.
Commenting on the appointment Sanjeev Gupta, executive chairman of the GFG Alliance said: “We’re very pleased to have someone of Mr Mehta’s calibre to lead our entry into Indian industry. His leadership will be extremely valuable to us at this critical juncture, India presents boundless opportunities for growth as the country undergoes dramatic reform under the current government and a young population unleashes demand. Following GFG’s successes in so many other parts of the world, I am very excited to bring our pioneering business model to my own motherland and I’m confident that the appointment of Mr Mehta and many other respected senior executives and advisors will enable us to establish a significant base in India capable of sustained long term growth.”
