Balaji R.: National Head, Energy, Indus Towers
Balaji R. has over 24 years of experience in finance and general management, of which he has spent 15 years in the telecom sector in various capacities. He has wide-ranging experience in handling mergers and acquisitions, power project financial closure, post-acquisition integration and ERP implementation. After successfully managing the business operations of three circles for Indus Towers, Balaji has now taken over as national head, energy. He is responsible for bringing in greater efficiency in energy management through product and process innovation.
Balaji notes that in an era of falling revenue per minute realisation, telecom service providers (TSPs) are increasingly focusing on operational prudence. One such cost element that is in focus is energy since it accounts for a major part of network operation costs. “In the telecom sector, energy costs are traditionally treated as a pass-through to TSPs, leading to limited incentives for tower companies to contain costs. But tower companies are making efforts to correct this situation and generate savings for TSPs,” he says.
Increasingly, TSPs are asking tower companies for fixed power and fuel cost arrangements rather than the traditional pass-through method. In addition to the energy consumption and cost model, tower companies are taking initiatives aimed at achieving sustainability. “The passive infrastructure industry is working towards energy cost optimisation with sustainability through active collaboration with original equipment manufacturers for energy efficient equipment and renewable energy solutions, thereby reducing the sector’s carbon footprint,” he explains.
Balaji’s management style is a blend of people-oriented and task-oriented leadership. “I believe in having the right people at the right time and demonstrate my trust and empathy explicitly at all levels of relationships. It enables just, equitable, fair and transparent engagement,” he says. Balaji is a chartered accountant and a cost accountant by training. He spends his spare time with his family, or travelling, reading and following extreme sports. “I am a lifetime learner and rarely experience boredom,” he says. His family includes his wife, who is a chartered accountant and entrepreneur, and their two children. His daughter is an avid Formula 1 enthusiast, kart racer and motorsport journalist and is pursuing an undergraduate management programme in Canada. His son is in middle school and is an inspirational blogger and animation enthusiast, who is currently creating his own animation themes.
