Raymond Appoints Former BEL CMD Bhanu Prakash Srivastava as CEO – Defence
Veteran defence executive to lead Raymond’s defence business and drive expansion into advanced defence technologies and systems
Raymond Limited has announced the appointment of Bhanu Prakash Srivastava as Chief Executive Officer – Defence. The appointment marks the company's expansion into India's defence and aerospace sector, where he will lead the defence business and oversee its strategic direction, operational roadmap and growth plans.
Bhanu Prakash joins Raymond after nearly four decades at Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), bringing experience in defence technologies, programme execution and organisational leadership.
Leadership Experience at BEL
During his tenure as Chairman & Managing Director of BEL, Bhanu Prakash:
- Tripled the company's market capitalisation from ~₹51,000 crore to ₹1.5 lakh crore
- Secured ₹55,000+ crore in new orders
- Launched 100+ products
- Strengthened research and development capabilities
He also led programmes covering:
- Radar systems
- Naval and sonar systems
- Missiles
- Electronic warfare
- Tactical communications
In addition, he supported indigenisation initiatives and established AI incubation centres for India's defence ecosystem.
Role at Raymond
In his new position, Bhanu Prakash will be responsible for executing Raymond's long-term defence strategy.
The company said his responsibilities will include expanding Raymond's engineering capabilities from precision manufacturing into:
- Defence electronics
- Software
- Systems integration
- Aerospace technologies
- Automotive technologies
Chairman Comments
Commenting on the appointment, Gautam Hari Singhania, Chairman & Managing Director, Raymond Limited, said:
"India's defence sector is entering a defining phase of growth, innovation and self-reliance, creating significant opportunities for companies with strong engineering capabilities and long-term commitment. Bhanu Prakash's exceptional leadership, deep understanding of complex defence programmes and proven track record of building high-performance organisations make him the ideal leader to spearhead Raymond's defence journey. We are delighted to welcome him to the Raymond family and are confident that his experience will help establish Raymond as a trusted private-sector partner in India's defence ecosystem."
Bhanu Prakash on His New Role
Speaking about his appointment, Bhanu Prakash Srivastava said:
"I am honoured to join Raymond at a defining moment in its growth journey. The Company has built a remarkable legacy of manufacturing excellence, quality and innovation, creating a strong foundation for entering the defence sector. The opportunities emerging from India's focus on indigenous defence capabilities are unprecedented, and I am excited to work with the leadership team to build differentiated technology-led solutions, develop strategic partnerships and create a globally competitive defence business."
Professional Background
Bhanu Prakash is a Mechanical Engineering graduate from the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, and has spent 39 years in India's defence manufacturing sector across leadership roles in operations, research and development, marketing, naval systems and strategic programme execution.