Amara Raja Batteries appoints S Vijayanand as CEO

The Board of Directors of Amara Raja Batteries has appointed S Vijayanand as chief executive officer, effective April 1, 2017.

S Vijayanand is currently the CEO of Amara Raja Power Systems, which is part of the Amara Raja Group. He started his career in 1990 with a brief stint with Hindustan Unilever limited as a research scientist and joined the Amara Raja Group in 1992.  He held various positions across the organisation in the areas of business leadership, strategic planning, new business development initiatives, technology development and project management. He was vice-president and SBU head of the Industrial Batteries Division of Amara Raja Batteries before he took up the assignment as CEO of Amara Raja Power Systems in 2011.

He holds a B. Tech Degree in chemical engineering from SVU College of Engineering, Tirupati and an M. Tech in chemical engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai. Vijayanand is currently chairman of the Battery Society of India and is actively promoting the adoption of new and emerging technologies in the field of renewable energy and alternative battery chemistries.

Dr Ramachandra N Galla, founder chairman of the Amara Raja Group and chairman of ARBL, said: "I am pleased to welcome Vijayanand into ARBL as its CEO. Vijayanand is a promising leader with expertise in battery technology, operations, project management and business development.”

Jayadev Galla, vice-chairman and managing director, said, “Vijayanand is one amongst our many successful leaders within the Group and his experience and performance in various roles within the Group will be invaluable. I am confident that Vijayanand, through ‘The Amara Raja Way’ will bring to our team new insights, a new momentum and contribute to accelerating the achievement of our Vision”

Commenting on his appointment, Vijayanand said: "I am very pleased to take up the role of CEO at ARBL. I am proud and motivated to lead the ARBL team whose tremendous energy and commitment levels are well respected. I am looking forward to many exciting opportunities in the battery business and would be able to contribute, learn and better the overall performance and leadership of the business."