Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), a premier warship builder under the Ministry of Defence, has elevated two retired Indian Navy officers to senior leadership positions. Cmde Vinith Aerat, IN (Retd.) has been promoted to the post of Chief General Manager (CGM), while Cdr Aravind Shankar, IN (Retd.) has been promoted to General Manager (GM), both with effect from 15 July 2025.
Leadership with Naval Legacy
Cmde Vinith Aerat, who joined GRSE on 1 December 2021 as General Manager (Technical), brings over 27 years of experience in the Indian Navy. A graduate in Naval Architecture and Shipbuilding from Cochin University of Science and Technology, he also holds a Diploma in Naval Construction from IIT Delhi and an M.Tech in Corrosion Science & Engineering from IIT Bombay.
Since joining GRSE, Cmde Aerat initially led design activities for various shipbuilding projects for nearly three and a half years. Currently, he heads Business & Technology Development, Corporate Communication, and New Product Design Divisions. His strategic focus lies in advancing solutions for the commercial shipbuilding sector, including development of autonomous vessels.
Deep Production Expertise
Cdr Aravind Shankar, who joined GRSE on 2 February 2017 as Deputy General Manager, has over 20 years of service in the Indian Navy. He holds a B.Tech in Naval Architecture & Shipbuilding from Cochin University, along with a Diploma in Naval Construction from IIT Delhi. He further enhanced his credentials with a PGDIM in Hull Inspection & Trials, PGDIM in Operations Management, and an MBA in Operations Management from IGNOU.
At GRSE, Cdr Shankar initially worked with the Production Planning and Control Department for five years. He now leads production teams handling various shipyard projects under core production functions.
These promotions highlight GRSE’s commitment to recognising leadership talent and strengthening its management with domain expertise from defence services.
About GRSE
Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE) is a leading warship builder in India, operating under the Ministry of Defence. Headquartered in Kolkata, GRSE is known for delivering complex naval platforms and has been instrumental in strengthening India’s maritime capabilities. It has built over 100 ships for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard and offers expertise in design, engineering, and construction of a wide range of vessels for defence and commercial use.
