Notable-Alumni

Er Narendar Kumar, after graduating from PEC in Aeronautical Engineering in 1973, started his career as Industrial Engineer in Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and then joined IFICI one of the leading financial Institutions of the country and rose to the rank of Executive Director of the company. He was a pioneer in introducing Information Technology in Financial Institutions. He also carried out various techno economic research studies in the area of engineering projects, textile and sugar industries and his turn-around strategies were very successful in revival of a number of sick industries in these sectors. He has the honour of serving as the Chairman of North India Technical Consultancy Organization Limited (NITCON) as well as member on the board of many reputed companies. He was also on the Board of Governors of the Institute of Leadership Development, Jaipur. Presently he is working as a Professor and Head, Department of Management studies, at Gurgaon Institute of Technology and Management, Gurgaon. His current areas of interest include Strategic management, Marketing Management and Strategic Human Resource Management.

PEC alumnus Vishal Kaul (1997; Civil) has been appointed as the Chief Operating Officer of Ola, India’s mobile app for transportation. Vishal, PepsiCo veteran, has been with the company since the start of his career in 1999. He has held key leadership positions across operations, sales and marketing in his career spanning 18 years within the company. Vishal was most recently the General Manager of PepsiCo Foods for Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. As COO, Vishal will head Ola’s operations, strengthen Ola’s market leadership, expand its reach to nooks and corners of the country and widen the base of Ola’s customers and driver-partner fraternity, in line with its mission to build mobility for a billion Indians. Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO and Co-founder at Ola, said, “I’m thrilled about Vishal joining Ola to lead our operations. Vishal’s energy is palpable and I have really enjoyed my interactions with him since we began interacting a few months ago. He is a passionate and experienced business leader with a demonstrated ability to drive business towards growth and profitability. His intuitive understanding of consumer businesses, ecosystem management experience and market understanding is invaluable. I look forward to partnering with him as we expand our reach and build Ola to serve the needs of every single Indian.

Yogendra Garg is a 1990 Batch Officer of IRS (Customs & Central Excise). He is currently heading Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs Centre of Excellence at New Delhi. CoE is a wing to carry out Tax research and suggest measures to bring in excellence in Indirect Tax Administration. In addition, he is also Additional Director General GST engaged in formulation of GST Policy. He has spent long years in Policy formulation in Department of Commerce and in Department of Revenue. He was closely associated with the SEZ Policy formulation and was heading the CBEC Working Group on GST during 2012-13. He has been Co-convener of GST Sectoral Group on Textiles & Footwear as also Member of GST Standing Committee on Capacity Building & GST Single Interface Committee. He is currently Member Secretary of GST Law Review Committee. He is an alumnus of Punjab Engineering College Chandigarh ( Mechanical: 1984-88) and IIM Bengaluru (1988-1990). He started his professional career as Management Trainee with Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Co. Mumbaibefore joining the Government in December 1990. He started his Government career from Ratnagiri in 1992 in an Anti Smuggling formation and has held many positions in the last 25 years. Notable amongst these are Asst. Director, Revenue Intelligence, Development Commissioner Kandla SEZ, Director SEZ Dept. of Commerce, Director TRU, Commissioner Customs Mumbai, Commissioner CX at Faridabad and Gurgaon etc.

Yogesh Kumar, a distinguished alumnus from PEC Chandigarh and IIT Chennai, is a renowned technologist in the field of Aircraft and Aircraft systems. During his career (all in R & D) at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) a leading Aerospace Organization, he has successfully led a number of major R& D programmes; namely, The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme, The development of Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT), Upgrade of ‘Jaguar’ aircraft. He was also responsible for design and development of flight control system test rigs for the Boeing-787 Dreamliner in the year 2005-2006. Yogesh Kumar is the proud recipient of National/International awards- Noel Derr Gold Medal – 1987, National acclamation Prize – 1988, National Aeronautical Prize – 2000, Scientist of the Year Award – 2001, International Project Management Award – 2005 considered an ‘Oscar’ in Project Management, Life Time Achievement Award – 2006, Rashtriya Gaurav Award – 2010. Author of about 24 Scientific and Technical papers and over 40 keynote addresses and lectures to reputed organizations, he has also authored a Book titled “Lead and Execute- Art of Managing Large Scale Projects”. It was formally launched by Chairman HAL on 18th Dec. 2014 at HAL Management Academy, Bangalore. He is fellow, Aeronautical Society of India and Member, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Sunil Saigal, is an Indian-born American engineer. Saigal obtained his bachelor’s degree (Civil Engineering) at Punjab Engineering College,Chandigarh, India in 1978, obtaining a masters in Structures from Indian Institute of Sciencein 1980, and obtained his PhD in 1985 from Purdue University, United States. Sunil Saigal is a former dean of the Newark College of Engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Shri J.C. Nakra has assumed charge as Chairman & Managing Director of Engineers India Ltd. (EIL) w.e.f. February 12, 2018. In a career spanning over 36 years, Shri Nakra has worked in a wide array of domains including Projects, Construction & Marketing. He joined EIL in 1983 in Construction Division (Offshore). Subsequently, he served in various capacities in Marketing and Project Divisions. Sh. Nakra has steered the Marketing initiatives of EIL for business development in India and abroad and has also led Project teams for implementation of major projects. A Mechanical Engineering Graduate from Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh (1981 Batch), Shri Nakra also possesses a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management Studies from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai. Prior to assuming charge of C&MD, he was holding the position of Director (Projects) in EIL.

Anup Chandra Pandey (1979, Mechanical) has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh (UP) administration. He is replacing Rajiv Kumar for the post who is retiring on 30 June. Mr. Anup Pandey is a 1984 batch IAS officer. He has spent a long time in UP, working on various levels and has a clean image and impeccable record.

Monte Ahuja is a self-made entrepreneur, philanthropist, avid golfer, and consummate family man. He graduated from PEC in 1967 (mechanical) and from Ohio State University in 1970 with a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Moved to Cleveland in 1972 and while working full time earned MBA Degree from Cleveland State University in 1975, graduating with honors (Beta Gamma Sigma). He then, established his new business, Transtar Industries, a distributor of quality automotive transmission parts. His beginnings were meager: 2 employees and a very small warehouse. Thirty years later through methodical planning, hard work, and with a bold vision Monte developed Transtar into the largest distributor of automotive aftermarket transmission parts in the United States. Later, he sold the business in 2010. Currently he is the Chairman, CEO of MURA Holdings LLC, an investment company. Awards & Recognitions: Transtar earned dozens of awards for its outstanding growth and community involvement, including the Arthur Anderson 2000 Leadership Award, the Inside Business NEO Success Award, the Association of Corporate Growth Deal Makers Award, Governor's "E" Award (twice) for excellence in export and runner-up for the National Entrepreneur of the Year competition, sponsored by INC. Magazine and Ernst & Young in 1995. Several awards received personally include: • Distinguished Alumni Award from Cleveland State University, in 1990; • George Dively Award by the Harvard University Business School, in 1999; • Honorary Doctorate Degree in Business, from Cleveland State University, in 2001; • Ellis Island Medal of Honor for outstanding American Citizens, in 2001; • International Executive of the Year Award by the World Trade Center of Cleveland, in 2002; • Distinguished Alumni Award from Ohio State University, in 2003; • Inducted into the Inside Business Magazine, Northeast Ohio Business Hall of Fame, October 2003 (cover page included). • Appeared on a TV series as one of the most distinguished NRI's from India, produced and telecasted by a major Asian Indian TV Channel (ZTV). Community Involvement: Served as Trustee of the Cleveland State University Board for nine years (1991-2000) and its Chairman of the Board for six years. In 1999, CSU named the new Business School building ‘Monte Ahuja Hall', as its new home for the College of Business Administration. Currently serving as a member of the board/trustees for the following organizations: • University Hospital System of Cleveland (Chairman* ~ 2007-2011) • BioEnterprise Corp. (Board Member) Previously served with: • The Musical Arts Association • The Greater Cleveland Partnership • Greater Cleveland Roundtable • The National Conference • World Trade Center Advisory Council • Ohio Export Promotion and Trade Council (education committee) In 2011, University Hospitals named its new hospital "Ahuja Medical Center" honoring the Ahuja family. Also in 2011, Cleveland State University named its business college ‘The Monte Ahuja College of Business’.