Social Work (Road Safety, Skilling)
Rama Shankar Pandey
Board Member
New DELHI,DL
Summary
Dynamic business leader with over 27 years of experience in turning around and scaling businesses across the automotive and social impact sectors. Recognized as one of the youngest Managing Directors of a listed MNC in India. Currently serving as a Social Defence Fellow with the Government of India, championing national social missions such as Bhiksha Vritti Mukta Bharat (Beggar-Free India). Renowned for building purpose-led businesses, driving public-private partnerships, and advancing India’s mobility, road safety, and skill development agenda. A passionate road safety activist, mentor, author, and teacher, with leadership roles across FICCI, ACMA, ASDC, MEPSC, and more.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
20
20
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
3
3
Languages
Work History
Social Defence Fellow
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
04.2024 - Current
- Driving the national mission to eliminate begging across India.
Chief Executive Officer
Tata Green Batteries
01.2023 - 04.2024
- Successful execution of #StopTheBleeding project to bring back the company to Green from EBIT Loss situation
- Business Model Innovations to enter Home UPS, Industrial segment and Collaboration with OEM’s for joint market offensive in 2W Aftermarket.
- Successful Entry to MSIL with SOP of higher technology ISS batteries with single sourcing status.
- Restructuring Aftermarket Channel and bring back Channel Confidence
- Strategizing positioning of the brand with “Naye India Ki Nayi Battery” with millions of reach and successful consumer acquisition
- Establishing Operational Excellence Project and successfully executing COPQ and reputational transformation Infront of major OEM’s. Applauded by Global chairman for TQM activities leading to massive reduction in process rejections and achieving global benchmark.
- Benchmark performance on Total Employee Involvement and overall employee engagement towards a great place to work culture.
Business Unit Head – IAM
TATA AutoComp Systems Ltd.
02.2023 - 04.2024
- Leading overall P&L Management, Product and Customer diversification.
- Established clear performance metrics for team members that aligned with overarching company goals.
Board Member (Non-Executive & Pro Bono)
Paracoat Products Ltd.
04.2024 - Current
- Enhanced board effectiveness by collaborating with other Board Members for implementing innovative strategies and best practices.
Regional Head (Asia), Special OE
Hella Germany
01.2021 - 01.2022
- Handled Asia Region for SOE Business Division and contributed as Executive Member for steering global businesses of Hella-SOE
- Responsible for P&L, Team and Growth Strategy for Asia including India and China. Team Strength - 690
- Achieve strategic Growth objective
- Built Synergy among Global D&D Teams for Lighting at Germany, Austria and India to offer solutions to both Chinese and Indian Customer.
- Built Synergy among India and China Manufacturing and Supply Chain
- Built Global Development Centre of Hella Gutmann Diagnostic Solutions (Mainly Team of Data Scientists, Developers and Testing Professionals) and for Lighting Product development setup
- Steering Global Product Diversification of Hella Aftermarket for India, Middle East and Africa Region.
Managing Director
Hella India Lighting Ltd.
01.2010 - 01.2022
- Profitable Turnaround of HIL's OE Business through Blue Ocean strategy, Innovation & Value Selling.
- Revived operations and made HIL a top 25 Great Place to Work in India (2019). Led innovation initiatives recognized by CII for mid-sized manufacturing.
- Successfully established the Vision of HIL, "Technology of Tomorrow for the Life of Today on Indian Roads".
- Building world class Production and Development Location from Scratch (including Global Engineering Services)
- Excelled in Local4Local modular customization project & Local4Global Product Strategy
- Built Global Competency Centre for Hella SOE divisions worldwide need.
- Built one of the most successful multi-product Aftermarket Business Unit in India from Scratch
Chairman, Aftermarket Committee
ACMA India
09.2017 - Current
- Provide Leadership to India's Aftermarket Industry by Organizing, Standardizing and digitizing the Industry.
- Steering of Executive Council together with all other members through my Auto Components Manufacturing experience.
Governing Council Member (Position of Non Profit)
ASDC – Automotive Skills Development Council
09.2019 - Current
- Providing Leadership to ASDC's vision for bridging Automotive Skill Gaps. Mainly contributing to demand creation for Automotive Skill through Automotive Olympiads and other outreach projects of the council.
- Domain advisory for Auto Technicians and Driver Training Programs.
Director-India,
Hella Asia Singapore
12.2006 - 12.2009
- As founder Director, successfully launched Hella's Independent Aftermarket Startup operations in India and SAARC countries and built strong foundation for the brand for consumer business.
- Strategic Collaborations to launch diversified Product lines.
Managing Director
Hella Philippines Inc.
01.2019 - 12.2019
- M&A execution and strategic alignment in Southeast Asia.
Business Manager
Timken India
01.2004 - 12.2006
- Launched New Business Model of Timken Service Point Nationally
Business Manager
Bosch India
01.1997 - 12.2004
- Turnaround of Business in the Territory to National Benchmark at BOSCH Aftermarket
Education
B.Tech - Production Engineering & Management
NIT Calicut
Kozhikode, India 04.2001 - 01.1997
Executive General Management Programme - Strategy , Finance & Marketing
IIM Bangalore
Bengaluru, India 04.2001 - 01.2006
Global Advanced Management Program - Open Innovation Strategy
UC Berkeley, Haas
Berkeley 04.2001 - 01.2016
Business Analytics: From Data To Insights - Big Data Analytics
The Wharton School
On-Line 04.2001 - 01.2019
Diploma in Business Finance - Financial Mgmt, Proj. Finance, Investment Planning
ICFAI
Calicut REC Centre 04.2001 - 01.1997
No Degree - Strategy & Leadership
McKinsey
Germany 04.2001 - 01.1997
No Degree - Leadership, Coaching
BCG
Brussels 04.2001 - 01.1997
Skills
Business Turnaround & Growth Strategy
Strategic thinking & Business Planning
Business Model Innovation
Marketing & Brand Building
Sales Management
Automotive Leadership & Innovation
Automotive Aftermarket & Channel Management
Capacity Building & Skill Development
Collaboration and Trust Building
Road Safety Advocacy & Campaigning
Corporate Governance & Board Membership
Public Policy & Social Impact Programs
Previous Leadership Roles
- Chief Executive Officer, Tata Green Batteries, 01/01/23, 04/01/24
- Business Unit Head – IAM, TATA AutoComp Systems Ltd., 02/01/23, 04/01/24
- Managing Director, Hella India Lighting Ltd., 01/01/10, 12/31/22, Revived operations and made HIL a top 25 Great Place to Work in India (2019). Led innovation initiatives recognized by CII for mid-sized manufacturing.
- Regional Head (Asia), Special OE, Hella Germany, 01/01/21, 12/31/22
- Managing Director, Hella Philippines Inc., 01/01/19, 12/31/19
- Business Manager, Timken India, 01/01/04, 12/31/06
- Business Manager, Bosch India, 01/01/97, 12/31/04
Awards Honours
- Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Award, Master Entrepreneur, 2021
- Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Award, Most Promising, 2016
- ET-Now CSR Leadership Award, 2018
- ET Most Promising Business Leader of Asia, 2019
- India’s Top 100 Greatest Leaders, AsiaOne, 2016-17, audited by PWC
- Recognized by GPTW for Leadership in Crisis
- Jury Member, All India Management Association (AIMA)
Education Certifications
- IIM Bangalore, Executive General Management Programme, 2006
- UC Berkeley, Haas, Global Advanced Management Program, 2016
- The Wharton School, Business Analytics, 2019, Online
- ICFAI, Diploma in Business Finance, 1997
- NIT Calicut, B.Tech, Production Management, 1997
- Certified Board Member, CII High Performing Resilient Boards
Current Engagements
- Social Defence Fellow, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, 04/01/24, Present, Driving the national mission to eliminate begging across India.
- Indian Administrative Fellow, The/Nudge Foundation & NISD, 04/01/24, Present, Leading national service projects with measurable social outcomes.
- Board Member (Non-Executive), Paracoat Products Ltd., 04/01/24, Present
- Governing Board Member, MEPSC (AIMA Promoted SSC), 04/01/23, Present
- Chairman, Road Safety Sub-Committee, FICCI, 03/01/20, Present
- Governing Council Member, ASDC – Automotive Skills Development Council, 09/01/19, Present
- Chairman, Aftermarket Committee, ACMA India, 09/01/17, Present
Accomplishments
- Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Award – 2021 (Master Entrepreneur) , 2016 (Most Promising)
- Economic Times Most Promising Business Leader of Asia – 2019
- India’s Best Leader in Crisis, GPTW
- ET-Now CSR Leadership Award – 2018
Affiliations
- Life Member AIMA - All India Management Association
- Life Member IOD - Institute of Directors
Certification
Certified to be Board Members of High Performing Resilient Boards by CII
Interests
Mentoring, Coaching Startups
Impact Investor in Startups
Timeline
Social Defence Fellow
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
04.2024 - Current
Board Member (Non-Executive & Pro Bono)
Paracoat Products Ltd.
04.2024 - Current
Business Unit Head – IAM
TATA AutoComp Systems Ltd.
02.2023 - 04.2024
Chief Executive Officer
Tata Green Batteries
01.2023 - 04.2024
Certified to be Board Members of High Performing Resilient Boards by CII
06-2021
Regional Head (Asia), Special OE
Hella Germany
01.2021 - 01.2022
Governing Council Member (Position of Non Profit)
ASDC – Automotive Skills Development Council
09.2019 - Current
Managing Director
Hella Philippines Inc.
01.2019 - 12.2019
Chairman, Aftermarket Committee
ACMA India
09.2017 - Current
Managing Director
Hella India Lighting Ltd.
01.2010 - 01.2022
Director-India,
Hella Asia Singapore
12.2006 - 12.2009
Business Manager
Timken India
01.2004 - 12.2006
B.Tech - Production Engineering & Management
NIT Calicut
04.2001 - 01.1997
Executive General Management Programme - Strategy , Finance & Marketing
IIM Bangalore
04.2001 - 01.2006
Global Advanced Management Program - Open Innovation Strategy
UC Berkeley, Haas
04.2001 - 01.2016
Business Analytics: From Data To Insights - Big Data Analytics
The Wharton School
04.2001 - 01.2019
Diploma in Business Finance - Financial Mgmt, Proj. Finance, Investment Planning
ICFAI
04.2001 - 01.1997
No Degree - Strategy & Leadership
McKinsey
04.2001 - 01.1997
No Degree - Leadership, Coaching
BCG
04.2001 - 01.1997
Business Manager
Bosch India
01.1997 - 12.2004