New Delhi: SM Ramanathan, currently serving as Executive Director at Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), has been appointed as Director (Engineering, Research & Development) of the company.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), on the recommendation of the Ministry of Heavy Industries, approved the proposal for his appointment. An official order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday confirmed the decision.
The selection process involved interviews conducted by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) on December 31, 2024, with 10 candidates. Following the evaluation, Ramanathan’s name was recommended to the ACC for final approval.
Ramanathan, with his extensive experience at BHEL, is set to lead the company’s engineering and R&D initiatives, contributing to its ongoing technological advancements and innovations.
A Mechanical Engineering graduate from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Ramanathan also holds a Master’s degree in Stress and Vibration Analysis from the Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (formerly Engineering College), Bhopal. In addition, he is a Fellow of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (FICWA), with a specialization in Accounting and Finance.
With over 35 years of diverse experience in BHEL, Ramanathan has served in several strategic and operational leadership roles. He has held key positions such as General Manager (Bhopal) since July 2018, and earlier led critical portfolios in flue gas desulphurization, spares, and water business during his tenure as General Manager in Ranipet (2017–2018). From 2011 to 2017, he served as Additional General Manager in Bhopal, managing planning, strategy, and finance.
His elevation to Director (Engineering, R&D) is seen as a strategic move to strengthen BHEL’s innovation and technology-driven growth.
