G.M. Rao

Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao, a mechanical engineer from andhra university is the Founder Chairman of GMR Group, a global infrastructure developer and operator based in India. Started in 1978, GMR Group is now present in 7 countries, active in Energy, Highways, Large Urban Development and Airports sectors, known for building and operating world class national assets.

Born in a small town of Rajam in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, G M Rao established the GMR business empire starting from a single jute mill in Rajam in 1978. A visionary businessman, G M Rao recognised the huge business potential in entering the infrastructure space, with the opening up of the power sector in the 90s in India. Within a decade, he successfully established three greenfield power plants in the country, one each in the state of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Under his guidance, the Group is now developing several power projects in various parts of India & abroad and is also expanding its presence globally. The Group has thirteen power projects of which three are operational with a capacity of 808 MW and ten projects are under various stages of implementation both in Hydel and Thermal Power. Going forward the Energy sector will have a capacity of 8448 MW.

G M Rao expanded the Group's presence in the infrastructure sector by leading the Group's foray into Highways. The Group has already completed six road projects. It has recently won three road projects, the 181 km Hyderabad–Vijayawada project in Andhra Pradesh on toll basis; 29 km Chennai Outer Ring Road state project in Tamil Nadu on annuity basis and the 99 km Hungund-Hospet stretch in Karnataka on toll basis.

Realising that Airports will drive the economy in the 21st century, G M Rao spearheaded the Group's entry into the high profile airport business. Under his leadership the Group has developed the new Greenfield International Airport at Hyderabad, and has modernised the Delhi International Airport by constructing a world-class integrated terminal 3 (T3) which was inaugurated on 3 July 2010.

Under G M Rao's visionary leadership, the Group commissioned the brand new Sabiha Gokcen International (SGA) airport terminal at Istanbul, Turkey on 31 October 2009. The project marking the Group's maiden global foray was completed in a record time of 18 months, a year ahead of schedule, as stipulated in the concession agreement. Recently the Group has won the bid to build, operate, modernize and expand the MALE International Airport (MIA), Maldives on 29 June 2010.

The Group has also ventured into the new business sector of Urban Infrastructure and is in the process of setting up a 3300 acre multi-product SEZ in Krishnagiri District of Tamil Nadu.

With a strong desire to serve the needs of the marginalised sections and the rural society, Rao set up the GMR Varalakshmi Foundation, to raise their living standards. The Foundation is active in the areas of education, health and hygiene, community development and empowerment.

G M Rao has today successfully established GMR Group, as one of the leading infrastructure organisations in the country. His commitment to the core infrastructure sector has resulted in the Group exiting some of the highly lucrative businesses of banking, insurance, breweries and jute. Rao was the largest shareholder in the country's leading 75-year-old private sector Vysya Bank, which has been successfully transformed into a modern technology driven and hugely successful financial enterprise. For his visionary approach and outstanding contribution to ING Vysya Bank for a period of two decades as its Director and Chairman, the Bank in September 2006 conferred on him the status and title of 'Chairman Emeritus'. For his exemplary entrepreneurial/industrial achievements, he has received an honorary Doctorate from the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, India. He has also been conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters from the Andhra University.

He was chosen as the 'Entrepreneur of the year' at the Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence 2006 – 07. The award has been given to him in recognition of his exemplary entrepreneurial spirit and potential in breaking into the big league of top infrastructure organisations in India. He has also been awarded the `Most Promising Entrant to the Big League' by CNBC TV18 at its `Indian Business Leader Awards 2007'. On 12th March, 2009, he received the Infrastructure Person (Infra Person) of the year award at the Infrastructure Journal Award Ceremony held in London. The award was bestowed on him for the Group's US$1.1bn acquisition of a 50% stake in InterGen N.V., a leading global power generation company, with 12 operating power plants located across five countries.

Mr. G M Rao is also the recipient of the Sir. M. Visveswaraiah Award - 2008' instituted by the Federation of Karnataka Chamber Of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) and the 'Most Inspiring Entrepreneur of the Year – 2008' award by National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Mumbai. He received the award for the 'First Generation Entrepreneur of the Year' at the CNBC TV18 India Business Leader Awards 2009.

To face the challenges of tomorrow and meet the future needs of a fast developing country like India, G M Rao has laid a strong emphasis in building a transparent and system driven organisation. While a set of seven core values define the GMR Group's distinct organisation culture, Rao has also spearheaded a "Family Constitution" model for the group. The aim of this is to ensure a smooth transition of business from generation to generation, and enable professionals to discharge their rightful roles in the growth and development of the Group. In line with this, over a period of time, the members of the family would provide only the strategic inputs and investment needs and counseling for all the businesses and activities of the Group.

G M Rao's thrust is on combining the best of entrepreneurial spirit with a dynamic team of professional managers who work in an enabling and vibrant organisational culture, to sustain and consistently meet his vision for the Group whereby, 'GMR Group will be an Institution in Perpetuity that will build Entrepreneurial Organizations making a difference to society through Creation of Value'. In 2007, the GMR group won a bid to privatize India's third busiest airport, Indira Gandhi International Airport. Rao spent $1 million on his bid and made a deal with Fraport AG to support his bid. GMR group has also completed a $200 million Hyderabad airport project, which was bid on in May 2000.