BUSINESS: Global investment firm Carlyle on Monday announced the appointment of Bajaj Electricals Chief Executive Officer Anuj Poddar to the new role of co-head of global portfolio solutions for Asia. In his new role, Poddar will focus on Carlyle’s investments in India and Southeast Asia. He resigned from Bajaj Electricals in July, where he had worked for more than eight years, including as an independent director. “His new role aligns with our increased focus on enhancing portfolio company value creation and increasing the number of control buyout deals we do in Asia,” Greg Jelak, managing director and co-head of Carlyle Asia, said in a statement.
“We look forward to leveraging Anuj’s extensive experience, particularly in India, as we work with our portfolio companies, aiming to strengthen and improve their operations, accelerate growth and increase impact,” he said in a statement. Carlyle’s investments in India include recently listed healthcare technology firm Indigene, Piramal Pharma, PNB Housing Finance, Viash Life Sciences and VLCC Healthcare. “Value creation in the sector is becoming increasingly complex and multi-faceted, and I look forward to working with the team and building Carlyle’s global GPS capabilities to help portfolio companies optimize performance in today’s rapidly evolving business environment,” Poddar said in the statement.
Poddar is credited with driving Bajaj Electricals’ turnaround, helping the maker of fans and other consumer electrical appliances close the market share and margin gap with its competitors. He joined Bajaj Electricals as an independent director in May 2016, before moving into an executive role in November 2018. He was appointed managing director and chief executive officer in August 2022. He will leave the firm at the end of September. Prior to Bajaj Electricals, Poddar worked at Viacom18 Media. He played an integral role in the company’s entry into mass entertainment and expansion into regional and international markets. While at Viacom18 Media, Poddar also led the strategy for Southeast Asia and China for Singapore-based MTV Networks Asia.
