Hyderabad: Olectra Greentech, one of India’s leading manufacturers of electric commercial vehicles, has appointed industry veteran Mahesh Babu Subramanian as its new Managing Director, effective September 27. The decision was formalized at the company’s annual general meeting, followed by a board meeting that also reconstituted key committees and confirmed other leadership appointments.
Babu, widely regarded as one of the most experienced professionals in the electric mobility space, brings more than three decades of expertise in the automotive sector. A postgraduate in engineering from BITS Pilani and a Fulbright Scholar, he has completed leadership programs at Carnegie Mellon University, IMD Switzerland, and Yale University. His professional journey includes long stints at Ashok Leyland, Mahindra Electric, and most recently as Chief Executive Officer of Switch Mobility, the electric vehicle arm of Ashok Leyland.
During his leadership at Switch Mobility, Babu played a key role in expanding the company’s footprint in the electric light commercial vehicle and bus segments. He oversaw the launch of the IeV3 and IeV4 small trucks, 12-metre low-floor electric buses, and India’s first electric double-decker bus. His earlier experience at Mahindra Electric also shaped India’s entry into the mainstream EV sector, where he served as COO before becoming Managing Director.
The board also approved the re-appointment of Mrs. Chintalapudi Laksmi Kumari as Independent Director for a further five-year term beginning January 9, 2026. A legal professional with nearly four decades of experience across civil, criminal, constitutional, and arbitration cases, she continues to bring governance expertise to the board.
In addition, the company restructured its leadership and board committees. The new Key Managerial Personnel line-up includes Mahesh Babu Subramanian as Managing Director, P. Rajesh Reddy as Whole Time Director, B. Sharat Chandra as Chief Financial Officer, and P. Hanuman Prasad as Vice President – Company Secretary and Head Legal.
The reconstituted board committees will oversee crucial functions such as audit, risk management, stakeholder relations, and corporate social responsibility. The appointments are subject to shareholder approval, though both appointees have confirmed compliance with regulatory norms and clarified that they are not related to existing board members.
With Babu at the helm, Olectra Greentech is expected to deepen its presence in India’s electric bus and commercial vehicle segment while strengthening its position as a key player in the country’s clean mobility transition.