Chandrashekar V Leading Gmmco’s Future

Chandrashekar V: The Visionary Leading Gmmco Ltd. into the Future of Infrastructure

Few leaders combine technical expertise, strategic vision, and people-centred leadership like Chandrashekar V, Managing Director and CEO of Gmmco Ltd. Under his stewardship since 2019, this CK Birla Group company has transformed from a traditional equipment supplier into a comprehensive technology-driven solutions powerhouse. Chandrashekar reflects on his journey, Gmmco’s growth, and the future of infrastructure in India.

By Tarannum Manjul

You’ve had an extensive career spanning over three decades in infrastructure, mining, and construction. What key milestones or turning points in your journey have shaped your leadership style?

Starting on the shop floor taught me the value of hands-on experience while managing operations across Northeast India, Nepal, and Bhutan, and establishing the presence of a European equipment company in Southern India strengthened this foundation.

Perhaps the most defining point in my career was a 14-year tenure in the infrastructure industry before joining Gmmco. Managing projects across hydroelectric, irrigation, mining, and oil & gas taught me the importance of effective decision-making and tackling large-scale challenges. These experiences shaped my “12th man” leadership philosophy—always ready to provide support but empowering my teams to lead. Leadership, to me, is about responsibility, not power.

Gmmco Limited is known for its world-class engineering capabilities in infrastructure and mining. What recent innovations or strategies has Gmmco implemented to stay ahead in these competitive sectors?

Our transformation has been multifaceted. We restructured Gmmco into independent profit centres for Construction, Surface Mining, Underground Mining, Energy, Transportation, and Rental & Used Equipment, which allows us to deliver specialised solutions with operational excellence.

A significant step forward has been the creation of GTS (Gmmco Technology Services), our Hyderabad-based subsidiary, which employs over 50 mining professionals offering full mining consultancy from exploration to ESG and engineering. Through a joint venture with Germany’s Hauhinco Holding GmbH, GTS employs over 80 engineers, advancing our specialised design and engineering services. Our strategic alliances with Schneider Electric and JLG further expand Gmmco’s role in the infrastructure sector.

The infrastructure and construction industries are rapidly evolving with new technologies like automation and AI. How is Gmmco adapting to these advancements, and what do you see as the future of these sectors?

Digital transformation has always been central to our strategy. Today, over 70% of our customers are online, with 45% of parts transactions happening digitally. We use digital inspection tools and Scheduled Oil Sampling (S.O.S) for predictive maintenance, helping optimise equipment availability and enables proactive solutions like repair before failure.

We’ve also invested in AI and automation to enhance our employee and customer experience. Our GmmcoAssist platform provides comprehensive services through multiple digital touchpoints, including mobile apps and web portals. This digital integration extends to our equipment, which features advanced telematics for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance.