Bhaskarudu moves from Maruti to GMR

NEW DELHI: He headed Maruti at the height of Suzuki’s face-off with the government. But seven years since, RSSLN Bhaskarudu seems to have switched over to the now-buzzing airport infrastructure sector.

The 66-year-old ex-Maruti MD and former chairman of public enterprises selection board, is now with infrastructure company GMR.

According to sources in the company, Mr Bhaskarudu joined GMR in September ’05 after his last PSU appointment. His is now additional director on the board of Hyderabad International Airport.

A technocrat, Mr Bhaskarudu worked for nearly 21 years in the power industry serving Bharat Heavy Electricals. He, then, joined MUL in 1983 and it was RC Bhargava, the then CMD, Maruti, who roped him in.

In the next decade and a half, Mr Bhaskarudu looked after divisions like production, projects and material handling of the car major.

He joined MUL as general manager in 1983, took up assignments of chief general manager in 1987, director (production and projects) in 1988, director (materials) in 1989 and joint managing director in 1993.

But his tenure as MD saw the worst head-banging between partners Suzuki and the government. Jagdish Khattar, the current MD, succeeded him at the helm of the car market leader in 1999.