Blue Star Limited

14 | Blue Star Limited Board of Directors SHAILESH HARIBHAKTI Chairman Shailesh Haribhakti is a renowned Chartered and Cost Accountant, and a Certified Internal Auditor, Financial Planner & Fraud Examiner with over four decades of experience in developing and leading oneof India’smost respectedanddiversifiedCharteredAccountingfirms,Haribhakti &Co LLPChartered Accountants.He is currently the Chairman of ShaileshHaribhakti &Associates,Chartered Accountants. He is a strong supporter of a clean and green environment, shared value creation and has pioneered the concept of ‘Innovating to Zero’ in the social context. Mr Haribhakti joined the Board of Blue Star in 2005 as an Independent Director and he took charge as Chairman with effect from April 1, 2019. In addition, he is currently the Chairman of the Board of L&T Finance Holdings Ltd, L&T Mutual Fund Trustee Ltd,Future Lifestyle Fashions Ltd and NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure Ltd,amongst others. He is also an independent Board member of a number of leading companies including Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd,Bennett Coleman andCompany Ltd (Times Group),Ambuja Cements Ltd,ACC Ltd, and Bajaj Electricals Ltd.Mr Haribhakti has helped create GOVEVA,which provides digital Governance & Compliance support to corporations globally. In recent times, some prominent Boards and Board Committees led by him have been recognised with coveted awards, which speak of his penchant for excellence in the areas of corporate governance and sustainability initiatives. Mr Haribhakti was a visiting faculty at IIM-Ahmedabad.He has led Bombay Management Association; Institute of Internal Auditors, Mumbai; Institute of Chartered Accountants of India; Indian Merchants Chambers; Financial Planning and Standards Board, India; and Rotary Club of Bombay over the last many decades. He has served on the Standards Advisory Council of the IASB in London for two years andwas Chairmanof NPS (National Pension Scheme)Trust from2015-2017.He has been conferredwith the‘Distinguished Fellowship of IOD (Institute of Directors) Award – 2009,’by the Institute of Directors. Vir S Advani holds Bachelor’s Degrees in Systems Engineering and in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.He has also completed a comprehensive ExecutiveManagement Programat Harvard Business School. Mr Advani, after a 2-year working stint in private equity in New York, joined Blue Star Infotech Ltd in 2000 and then founded Blue Star Design and Engineering Ltd in 2003,designated as its Chief Executive Officer. In 2007, he moved to Blue Star as Vice President-Corporate Affairs, where he made valuable contributions in a profit improvement programme as well as in Electro-Mechanical projects. In April 2016, Mr Advani was appointed as the Managing Director of the Company, and in April 2019, he was elevated to Vice Chairman and redesignated as Vice Chairman & Managing Director. In his enhanced role, Mr Advani is the primary interface between the Board and the Executive Management, and directly oversees the Professional Electronics and Industrial Systems business,International Operations, Corporate Finance, Corporate Human Resources, Information Technology and Corporate Planning. Mr Advani is a Director of Blue Star Engineering & Electronics Ltd. He is an active member of the Confederation of Indian Industry and an elected member of the Cll National Council. VIR S ADVANI Vice Chairman & Managing Director B THIAGARAJAN Managing Director B Thiagarajan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Madurai University. He has also completed the Senior Executive Program of London Business School. He has around four decades of experience, having worked for reputed companies such as Larsen & Toubro Ltd, BPL Systems Ltd and Voltas Ltd, prior to joining Blue Star in 1998. Mr Thiagarajan has handled various assignments in the Service Business,Corporate Communications & Marketing and Corporate Affairs & Planning before he was promoted as President-AC&R Products Group in 2009.He was elevated to the Board in 2013.He was appointed as Joint Managing Director in 2016 andwith effect fromApril 1,2019 he has taken charge asManagingDirector.He currently oversees Electro-Mechanical Projects and Commerical Air Conditioning Systems Business; Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain and Service Operations pertaining to the Products Business; Manufacturing and R&D; Corporate Communications; Public Relations; as well as Corporate Marketing Services. Mr Thiagarajan plays an active role in various industry fora, and is the Past President of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Manufacturers Association (RAMA). He is a nominated member of the Cll National Council, Co-chairperson of the Cll National Agriculture Council and Deputy Chairman of the CII Western Regional Council. Board of Directors