Automobile giant Mahindra & Mahindra is recruiting managers from overseas in an attempt to surmount complex technologies in several industries spanning from their two wheeler segment to aerospace. Out of its total employee strength consisting of 1.17 lakh employees, 9600 are foreigners. Incidentally out of its total revenues worth $7 billion, approximately 10% comes from its global avenues.
Alberto Strazzary, an engineer who has work experience handling operations of companies like BMW and Ducati, is heading a project in the firm to handle Mahindra’s emerging two-wheeler business. Peter Schmidt is the chief technology officer of Mahindra Forgings and is helping in technology transfer from the European operations. Gabriel Periotti, who was the MD of Italian Gears company Metalcastello, acquired by M&M some years ago, is in charge of projects which aim at elevating quality techniques to European standards. Peter Martin heads projects designed to develop new auto platforms or the assembly for new products. Larry Zahn, heads resort operations at Club Mahindra, which is the hospitality venture of M&M.
However the system works both ways. M&M has been known for its global acquisitions in recent times. This is opening up new opportunities for the company’s Indian employees to gain work experience abroad, in countries like China and US. For instance M&M after acquiring two Chinese tractor firms relocated Harsh Chavan, who spent years in the farm equipment business in the country to China to head the tractor business there.
The company which has recently received creditors’ approval to take over a Korean company Ssangyong, is planning to shift its CFO Dilip Sundaram to aid the Korean management. Vijay Nakra, who is the head of the South African operations, has recently returned to India and Arvind Mehra, CEO of the aerospace business, spends time in Australia assimilate the Indian and Australian operations.