One personality trait that N.F. Aibara wishes he had was a carefree nature. ?I have always lived life with a lot of precision and planning,? he says thoughtfully. ?Perhaps if I hadn?t, I would have been able to take more risks at work and in my personal life.?
Perhaps. But the planning and precision seem to have worked well for him. Aibara has accumulated extensive work experience, spanning different sectors and several years. He started his career with Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company in its sales division. His next stint was with Blue Star Limited in its refrigeration division and thereafter with Network Communications, where he was in charge of the electronic typewriter division.
His began his telecom innings in 1996 with Escotel Mobile Communications as head of sales and distribution and then moved on to its marketing division. Thereafter, he served as business head of the company?s operations in the Haryana circle. He then moved on to various telecom companies before joining Idea in 2008 as head of operations in the Uttar Pradesh (East) circle.
Today, as chief operating officer (COO) of Idea Cellular?s Uttar Pradesh (West) circle, his responsibilities include consolidating the company?s presence, ensuring Idea stays in the black, meeting regulatory and other statutory compliances, and making certain that employees and customers remain satisfied.
Aibara considers his stints at Escotel and Idea Cellular as his most memorable assignments. ?When I joined, Escotel Mobile Communications was a start-up company. This gave me ample opportunity to establish the business systems and processes, and launch the company?s prepaid services,? he says. Similarly, when he took charge of Idea?s Uttar Pradesh (East) operations, it had been only 15 months since services had been launched in the circle. Under his leadership, Idea managed to claim the third largest player position in the circle.
That was then. Today, he is busy grappling with new challenges and has mapped out a multi-pronged plan. ?We now have to function in a multi-operator environment, where a customer has several choices. With tariffs coming down and operating costs going up, the key challenge is to grow profitably and retain customers.?
At the end of a long day, Aibara enjoy reading management and motivational books, and spending time with his family. ?My family comprises my wife, two daughters and mother. We are a close-knit family and enjoy spending time with each other, watching television, especially the National Geographic channel, and planning family vacations,? he says.
