Avinder Singh

Avinder Singh joined OSRAM India as CFO in 2011. He took over as Managing Director and CEO of OSRAM India in 2016. He possesses over 3 decades of comprehensive experience working across industries – Lighting, Telecom, Electrical (power distribution), Infrastructure (Airports, Roads, Smart cities).

Avinder has handled and been responsible for multifaceted businesses – large projects, product, channel, service, manufacturing besides having expertise in corporate governance, finance & accounting.

Avinder led OSRAM India through its transformation into high technology, dynamic and connected lighting solutions company; having a strong base in Semiconductors and Automotive.

Before OSRAM, he was General Manager – Commercial with Siemens India for over 20 years. During his tenure, he was responsible for a
variety of businesses like Power Distribution, Airport and Postal logistics, Enterprise Networks, Finance & Accounts.

Avinder has a master’s degree in business administration and a degree in Law. He has studied at some of the top universities like Cornell, IIM-B, IIM-A, ISB-H, Delhi University.

 

Our Exclusive Interview:

1. How would you describe yourself in 5 or less sentences?  

  • I am a man of simple needs and intelligent deeds! 
  • Passionate about my work; believe in empowerment and accountability 
  • Believe in teamwork – likes to build, train and develop teams 
  • Love to decide and execute – value time  
  • Hate to be a perfectionist …. conscious about it! 

2. What is the one quality you admire in today’s leaders and what is the one quality you find lacking them? 

  • Adaptability and acceptability to technology  
  • Agility and flexibility 
  • They could bring in more empathy and compassion 

3. What does work-life balance mean to you? 

  • An edifice to a calm mind and personal growth 
  • Helps to restrict burnout 

4. What has been one of the biggest challenges as a leader? 

Making CHANGE look like a routine. Involving the team early helps to accept the ‘change’ willingly and wholeheartedly. 

5. What are the best ways that leaders can support other leaders, whether in the same organisation or a different organisation? 

  • Sharing personal experiences – networking
  • Leading by example
  • Acknowledging and encouraging good work 

6. What do you do to rejuvenate, to get back in touch with yourself?  

  • Spending time with my family helps me to rejuvenate. 
  • Listening to Kishore Kumar songs
  • Watching sports – tennis & cricket 

7. Your take on open door policy. 

  • It is the best way to connect with the team and people at large.
  • Helps self-learning
  • Team and employees get the confidence that they/their views hold value

8. What is your suggestion to improving corporate India’s D&I quotient?    

  • We must have an inclusive culture to promote and enhance diversity. 
  • We need to create a workplace environment that is collaborative, supportive, and respectful for employees to participate and contribute more.
  • Flexibility of time and location of work, flexible employment contracts, and upskilling talent helps to create an inclusive environment.
  • Wider talent pools comprising of specially–abled, retired professionals, and cross–industry experts should be used to fill the void.

8. Your perspective on sustainability and how do you promote it? 

  • Nothing is infinite including natural resources. This makes sustainability the key to long term success and survival.  
  • Creating opportunities for economic prosperity, design excellence, environmental responsibility are a few examples of sustainability 
  • Creating and encouraging ESG compliant organizations. 

 

Know the Person

  1. Loyalty to you is – a non-compromising virtue
  2. Fun and recreation to you is – Rejuvenating and rewinding
  3. Experience vs Education – what would you give higher preference to – Education
  4. Mountains or the beach: your ideal vacation spot would be – Mountains
  5. Horror, Action, Adventure, Romantic, Comedy – your favourite genre – Comedy