New Delhi: SM Ramanathan has officially taken over as Director (Engineering, Research & Development) on the Board of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), following his appointment to the position on Thursday.
An alumnus of IIT Madras with an M. Tech in Stress and Vibration Analysis and a Fellow of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India, Ramanathan began his journey with BHEL as an Engineer Trainee at the company’s High Pressure Boiler Plant in Tiruchirappalli in 1988. He was recognised early on for his performance, receiving the Best Engineer Trainee award in 1989.
With a career spanning 37 years, Ramanathan has held leadership positions across major BHEL functions—ranging from Engineering Design and R&D to Strategic Management, Production, Materials, Commercial Operations and Finance. His experience covers key manufacturing units in Tiruchirappalli, Ranipet and Bhopal, giving him an in-depth understanding of the company’s entire value chain.
Before this elevation, he served as Executive Director (OSD - E, R&D) at the Corporate Office, and also led BHEL’s Heavy Electrical Plant in Bhopal. In November 2023, he was made Executive Director and placed in charge of HPBP, Tiruchirappalli and the Boiler Auxiliaries Plant, Ranipet. In January 2024, he took over HEP Bhopal, becoming the first to head the top three revenue-generating units of the company in succession, credited with driving a turnaround in performance at each.
Ramanathan has played a key role in optimising hydro turbine designs using mathematical modelling and IT tools, resulting in significant savings in cost and cycle time. He holds a turbine-related patent and has contributed papers at both national and international technical forums. He is also a recipient of BHEL’s Excel award in the Innovation category.
Known within BHEL for his focused and hands-on approach, Ramanathan combines deep technical knowledge with business acumen. His career has spanned work in hydro and steam turbines, switchgears, flue gas desulphurisation systems, spares, digital tech, central planning, and financial strategy, making him well-placed to lead BHEL’s engineering and R&D operations into a new phase of innovation and industry readiness.
BI Bureau
