Central airconditioning and commercial refrigeration major, Blue Star Limited has announced the elevation of B Thiagarajan as a Wholetime Director of the Company with effect from May 13, 2013.

B Thiagarajan (55) earned a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronics degree from Madurai University, India. He completed a Senior Executive Program at the London Business School in 2006. He has over three decades of experience, having worked for L&T, BPL and Voltas prior to joining Blue Star.

Thiagarajan joined Blue Star in 1998 to manage the Marketing Support Services and Customer Service functions. He soon assumed responsibility for Corporate Communications and Marketing where he played a significant role in building the image and brand equity of Blue Star. Over the years Thiagarajan took additional charge of the Service Business operations of Blue Star, and then of Corporate Affairs & Planning. He was elevated to President of the Airconditioning & Refrigeration Products Group in 2009. Under his leadership, the AC&R products business of the Company has grown significantly in terms of volumes and profitability.

Blue Star has long been committed to promotion from within its ranks, all the way up to the Managing Director position. The Company has had a series of professional employees on its Board of Directors for the last four or five decades, and this has motivated a very large number of high performers to stay on in the company for a large part of their careers. Thiagarajan is one more member of this elite group which also lists the current Managing Director in its ranks.

In his new assignment, Thiagarajan will oversee all manufacturing, marketing, after-sales service and supply chain activities of Packaged and Room Airconditioners, Refrigeration Products and Cold Storages. In addition, he will continue to be responsible for Corporate Communications & Marketing and Public Relations.

Thiagarajan plays an active role in the affairs of various industry forums, and is currently President of the Refrigeration and Airconditioning Manufacturers’ Association (RAMA). He is also a Member of National Council of Agriculture of CII, Chairman of the CII National Task Force on Cold Chain Development, and Executive Committee Member of the Indian Green Building Council.