Mr. Mahendra Nahata: Managing Director
Mr. Nahata is the Founder and Managing Director of HFCL, leading overall strategy, planning, and new business development of the company. He was associated with many esteemed forums of telecom industry. He has served on the Board of Governors of Indian Institute of Technology - Bombay, Indian Institute of Technology - Madras, Indian Institute of Information Technology - Allahabad, and was a Member of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Government of India.
In 2003, Mr. Nahata was awarded "Telecom Man of the Millennium" by Voice & Data. He was the President of the Telecom Equipment Manufacturers Association of India (TEMA), Co-Chairman of the Telecom Committee of Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Chairman – Telecom Committee of PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry. He majored in Commerce stream from St. Xavier's College, Kolkata.
Mr. SK Garg: Executive Director
Mr. Garg is responsible for developing HFCL’s growth strategies and managing technology and bid management functions. An M.Tech from IIT Delhi and B.Tech from IIT Roorkee, his vast telecom experience spans Product Design & Engineering, Technology Cooperation, Business Development, and Project Implementation. Before joining HFCL, he was associated with organizations such as Bharat Electronics Limited and Alcatel India.
Mr. V R Jain: Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Jain is the Chief Financial Officer of the company. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant, a Company Secretary, and a commerce graduate from the University of Jodhpur. He is responsible for financial strategy & planning, fund management, internal controls systems & compliance, and performance reporting of existing and emerging businesses of the company. He has a vast experience in financial management and controls, managing and raising funds for business expansion through debt & equity, managing working capital requirements, policy formulations, and implementation of IT solutions & systems for business requirements. Prior to joining HFCL, he worked with organizations such as Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Ltd. and TransAsia Carpets Limited.
Mr. Harsh Pagay: Executive President – Optical Fiber & Optical Fiber Cable
Mr. Pagay is responsible for the Optical Fiber (OF) and Optical Fiber Cables (OFC) business of the company and manages efficient operations of manufacturing units in Goa and Hyderabad. An MBA from ICFAI Hyderabad and a B.Tech from MITS Gwalior, he has a wide techno-commercial experience across various fields. He has been serving senior leadership roles in Optical Communication MNCs. Before joining HFCL, he worked with Teracom Limited as its CEO. He was associated with brands like Finolex Cables, Sterlite Technologies, Hotline Tele Tube & Components, and J.K. Tyres.
Mr. Jitendra Singh Chaudhary: Executive President - Communications
Mr. Chaudhary is responsible for the Communications Business Unit spanning multiple verticals of the company - Public, Defence, and Railway Communications. He led a successful launch of a new product brand IO with a range of Access solutions. A PGDM holder from IIM, Calcutta and B.Tech from MMM Engineering College, Gorakhpur, Mr. Chaudhary has rich experience in managing and leading businesses, including the responsibility for P&L of respective Business Units, Sales, Marketing, Business Development, and Product Management across multiple geographies, majorly in the Asia Pacific Region. Prior to joining HFCL, he was working with DragonWave HFCL India Private Limited as CEO. In the past, he was associated with organizations such as SIAE Microelectronics, Aviat Networks, Harris Stratex Networks and Siemens.
Mr. GS Naidu: COO, HTL Limited, a subsidiary of HFCL Limited
Mr. Naidu is responsible for P&L and efficient operations of HTL's Plants at Chennai and Hosur. He majored in B.Tech from Bhopal University. His vast experience includes managing and heading Greenfield & Expansion projects, Manufacturing Operations, and Business Management. He has expertise in enhancing current systems to bring in cost efficiencies. He has also implemented India’s first ever Optical Fiber and Preform manufacturing plant at OPTEL Telecommunications, Bhopal. Prior to joining HTL, he was associated with organizations such as NALCO, OPTEL Telecommunication, and General Cable.
Mr. Sampathkumaran S.T.: Executive President - Defence Business
Mr. Sampathkumaran S.T. leads the Defence Business Unit of the company. He brings in a wealth of experience in Business Development and operations across Indian and global markets, particularly in Aerospace & Space, Defense & Defence R&D labs, as well as EPC & Industrial segments. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Sampathkumaran has held key leadership positions at reputable organizations such as Adani Enterprises, Dassault Reliance, and Aequs Aerospace. His remarkable achievements include the successful conclusion of substantial contracts with prestigious entities such as the DRDO, Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, and Dassault Aviation, France. Notable projects under his leadership encompass the supply of Falcon 2000 Business Jet Cockpits, Fuel Tanks, and Rafale Engine Bay Doors. Furthermore, he has played a pivotal role in critical projects concerning strategic vessels and submarines for the Indian Navy. He is an alumnus of University of Mysore, where he earned his Engineering degree in Electrical & Electronics. Additionally, he holds a PGDM from the Goa Institute of Management Studies – Goa. He is also a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, India and a certified Chartered Engineer.
Mr. Jayanta Dey: Executive President – 5G
Mr. Dey is responsible for the HFCL’s foray into 5G Product Development and System Integration globally. An MBA from North Eastern University, Boston, and a B.E. from BITS Pilani, he has a vast experience in the high-tech sector with a focus on innovation, scaling up competencies in new technologies, successful delivery of large transformation programs, and the ability to build and manage a business unit. Prior to joining HFCL, he worked with Wipro as Vice President and Global Business Head for Network and Edge & Consumer Electronics Vertical. He also worked as a CTO for the Manufacturing and Technology Business Unit at Wipro Limited, where he led the initiative on autonomous vehicles as part of Wipro's innovation charter.
Mr. Manish Gangey: Executive President - Product Line Management
Mr. Gangey leads the Product Line Management function of the company. He possesses extensive experience in the Telecom, Networking, and Semiconductor industries, having led multi-functional teams in Product Line Management, R&D, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Business Development. In a career spanning over 30 years, Manish has held pivotal leadership roles at Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Tejas Networks. He also co-founded Elina Networks, demonstrating his entrepreneurial spirit alongside his seasoned professional career. His strategic contributions, particularly in shaping Airtel's ORAN strategy and Jio's disaggregated product development strategy, have made a lasting impact on the industry. He holds an M.Tech from IIT Roorkee and a B.Tech in Electronics and Telecommunication from SGSITS Indore.
Dr. Peter Weimann: Chief Technology Officer – Optical Fiber Cable, HFCL Inc.
Dr. Weimann is responsible for new product development, technology strategy, and process strategy for the Optical Fiber Cables (OFC) and Optical Fiber (OF) businesses of the company. A Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering from the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN), and a B.S.Eng. and B.S.Econ from the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA), he has vast experience in optical fiber cable research and development. He holds 54 U.S. patents related to optical fiber and cable technology. Prior to joining HFCL, he was Director of Optical Cable Research & Development, North America, at OFS Fitel, LLC - a subsidiary of Furukawa Electric.
Mr. Devender Kumar: Executive President – Project Delivery
Mr. Kumar heads project delivery for Defence Communication projects of the company. A B.Tech from NIT Kurukshetra, he holds vast experience in providing leadership and strategic vision to the telecom sector for domestic and international telecom operators and equipment manufacturers. Throughout his career, he headed various portfolios of service business management, service delivery and solutions, telecom network deployment, project management, R&D divisions, and new product development verticals. Before joining HFCL, he worked with Samsung as Vice President for Network Business and led the Samsung network deployment business for Reliance Jio. He was also associated with organizations such as Huawei, Nokia, Tata Teleservices and Bharat Electronics.
Mr. Rajesh Jain: Executive President - EPC Projects
Mr. Jain heads the EPC Turnkey Projects division of the company. He has rich experience in varied business verticals such as Telecom & Power products, EPC Projects, and O&M Projects for domestic and international markets. An MBA from Dr. BhimRao Ambedkar University, Agra, and a B.Sc from RBS College, Agra, he has worked in senior business and cross-functional leadership positions. During his career, he has built strong relationships with key stakeholders in Government and Corporate sectors. Before joining HFCL, he worked as a CEO & Whole Time Director of A2Z Infra Engineering Limited, and was associated with organizations like Teracom and Vindhya Telelinks.
Mr. NL Garg: President - Supply Chain Management
Mr. Garg is responsible for Supply Chain Management of Key Business Units of the company. A B.Tech from Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, he has a rich experience in SCM in various multinational organizations and headed portfolios related to sourcing, operations and contracting. Before joining HFCL, he worked with Indus Towers as Head of Contract Management. In the past, he was associated with organizations like Airtel, Aircel, Escotel, and Xerox.
Mr. Sanjay Jorapur: President - HR
Mr. Jorapur heads the HR function of the company. An MBA from XLRI Jamshedpur and B.Tech from Walchand College of Engineering, Sangli, he has rich experience working in HR leadership roles with global responsibilities in the IT, Industrial, Automotive, Consumer, and Telecommunications sectors. His expertise lies in operating in a global environment at the CXO level, strategy formulation and execution, designing and implementing organization-wide processes, HR legal frameworks and six sigma-green belt. Mr. Jorapur has received several awards and titles for his contributions in the field of HR and was also named among the Top 25 thought leaders by Digitalist Magazine. Before joining HFCL, he worked with Hero MotoCorp as CHRO. In the past, he was associated with organizations such as Crompton Greaves, Honeywell, MindTree, and Wipro.
Mr. Sunil Pandey: Chief Information Officer
Mr. Pandey is responsible for the Digital & IT functions of the company. An MCA and PGDBA from Symbiosis, he is a leader with profound business and digital understanding in organizations spanning Hi-Tech Manufacturing, Renewable Energy, Power Transmission and Water Management. He has wide experience in driving digital transformation in large, complex, and global organizations. Mr. Pandey has won multiple awards in his career – The Futuristic – 100 (IDG), CIO of the Year 2021 (CIO Insider Magazine), CXO Tech Excellence Award (2020) (CxO TV News), Smart Innovator Award (2019) - DynamicCIO (Grey Head Media). Before joining HFCL, he worked as CIO (VP-IT) with JWIL Infra Limited. In the past, he was associated with organizations such as Sterlite Power Transmission Limited, Adani Green Energy Limited, and Moser Baer India Limited.
Mr. Manoj Baid: President (Corporate) & Company Secretary
Mr. Baid is responsible for the Secretarial function of the company. He is also responsible for ensuring compliance with corporate and securities laws and corporate governance stipulations across HFCL. A commerce graduate from the University of Rajasthan and a fellow member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India, he also looks after corporate communication and provides support for investor relations. His experience includes managing corporate and securities laws, investor relations, and secretarial matters. He has handled various mergers, acquisitions, takeovers, corporate restructuring, fundraising, public listings, GDR issues, and joint ventures. Before joining HFCL, he was associated with Modi Xerox Limited.
Mr. Jeff Frankenfield: Vice President and Head of Sales - North America Region (OFC), HFCL Inc. (USA)
Mr. Frankenfield is responsible for the sales of Optical Fiber Cables (OFC) and Optical Fiber (OF) Connectivity products of the company in North America. Graduating with an MBA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he has broad experience in go-to-market strategy, partnership development, and organizational leadership. Having spent over 25 years in the telecom industry, he has held various sales and leadership roles, both domestically and globally, for the organizations he has been a part of. Before joining HFCL, he worked with EXFO, Viavi (formerly JDSU), and OFS Fitel, LLC – a subsidiary of Furukawa Electric.
Mr. Jochen Arms: Vice President - International Sales, HFCL B.V. (Netherlands)
Mr. Arms is responsible for the sales of Optical Fiber Cables (OFC) and Optical Fiber (OF) Connectivity products of the company in Central Europe. He graduated with a Master’s Degree from the Free University Berlin in Linguistics, studied International Commerce at Loyola University and speaks six European languages fluently. He has rich experience in Fiber Optics and has been in senior leadership roles at various Fiber Optical cable vendors. Prior to joining HFCL, he worked with Corning, Prysmian, and Fujikura and was a member of the FTTH Council, Bruxelles and a German delegate to the market research committee.
Mr. Andrew Westerman: Vice President - International Sales, HFCL B.V. (Netherlands)
Mr. Westerman is handling the International Sales of Telecommunication products of the company. A BTEC National Certificate holder in Electronic Engineering, a Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Economics and a BSc. Hons in Economics (1st Class Honours), he has rich experience in managing and leading Sales teams and presales teams across multiple geographies. Prior to joining HFCL, he was Head of Sales, EMEA, with Mimosa by Airspan. In the past, he has worked with Ericsson, Siklu and Ceragon Networks.
Ms. Neelu Chandra: Vice President – Corporate Social Responsibility
Ms. Chandra leads the Corporate Social Responsibility function of the company. An M.Sc. from Rohilkhand University and an M.Ed from Himachal University, she holds broad experience in various fields such as education and pharmaceuticals. Her expertise includes project planning and execution, involving multiple stakeholder management and collaboration. She has been instrumental in carving HFCL’s CSR mission. Under her able leadership, the CSR initiatives have positively impacted over 60+ cities across India and touched thousands of lives. She also leads the Spark program, the flagship leadership program for the young joiners of the company. Under her guidance, management and graduate trainees from more than 30+ premium campuses across the country are being mentored to join the leadership ladder of the company. Prior to joining HFCL, she headed the regulatory affairs of a pharmaceutical company involving the licensing and export of medicines to Latin America, Africa, Russia, and Asian countries.