Shrinath Kotian Circle Business Head, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Telenor India
Shrinath Kotian has over 16 years of professional experience, having worked across industry verticals and functions such as office automation, banking, telecom, customer service delivery and marketing. He started his stint with the telecom industry with Airtel, then moved to Uninor (now Telenor India) in 2010.
Currently serving as business head for the Andhra Pradesh and Telengana circle for Telenor India, Kotian is responsible for the profit and loss accountability of the circle. “My primary responsibility is to increase consumption and ensure a higher market share. The immediate challenge is to grab a significant share in the circle in the face of stiff competition. People development is another key focus area, the aim being to ensure that the team is ready for a company that is transforming from a mainly voice company to a data-driven one,” he says.
Kotian counts the launch of Telenor as one of his most memorable assignments. “As marketing head of Gujarat circle, I was involved with the launch of Telenor in 2010. Within eight months of the launch, we were able to establish a sizeable footprint in Gujarat. Telenor became the fourth largest operators in the circle, leaving behind some incumbents,” he says.
According to Kotian, “There is space for voice growth in the next few years. However, data will soon take over the voice business. Telenor has already started making its networks future-ready. To fulfil the dream of a digital India, the telecom sector will have to play a big role. Further, the smartphone market will see a fall in prices and manufacturing in India will pick up. This will ensure that smartphones reach every Indian across rural and urban areas. Also, with the rise in e-commerce, smartphones will become the only device that will help consumers in their day-to-day activities.”
Kotian has an inclusive approach when it comes to managing his team. “I like to include my entire team while arriving at a mission or goal. My ability to deal with people is my biggest strength. I also like to adhere to deadlines and have strong project execution capabilities,” he says.
Kotian spends whatever little free time he gets with his family, which includes his wife and seven-year-old daughter. “I like playing and swimming with my daughter and going shopping over the weekends,” he says. He also enjoys cooking and often takes over the kitchen during weekends.
