Ashok M Advani is an MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration, an Electrical Engineer from MIT, USA and a B.Sc (Honours) from Mumbai University.

He joined Blue Star in 1969 and held a variety of senior positions in manufacturing and finance in the Company before he took over the Company’s affairs as Chairman & Chief Executive in 1984. He was redesignated as Chairman & Managing Director in 2005 and Executive Chairman with effect from July 2009. As Executive Chairman, he oversees Corporate Strategy, Corporate Governance, Investor Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility.

Ashok is the Vice Chairman of Blue Star Infotech Limited and on the Board of Alfa Laval (India) Limited. He has been a member of the Local Advisory Board of The Chase Manhattan Bank and a past President of the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Suneel M Advani is a double graduate in Electrical Engineering and Economics from MIT, USA. He also holds a degree in Law from Mumbai University.

He joined Blue Star in 1969 as a Management Trainee and moved up steadily by holding responsible positions before he was elevated to the position of President and Vice Chairman in 1984. He was redesignated as Vice Chairman & Managing Director in 2005. As Vice Chairman & Managing Director, he oversees the Electro Mechanical Projects Group, Corporate Communications & Marketing and Public Relations.

Suneel is also the Chairman & Managing Director of Blue Star Infotech Limited, Chairman of Blue Star Design & Engineering Limited, Blue Star Infotech (UK) Limited and Blue Star Infotech America, Inc. Suneel is a Member of the CII National Council, the apex governing body of CII. Besides, he is also associated with other trade associations and was the President of the Refrigeration and Airconditioning Manufacturers’ Association (RAMA).

Satish Jamdar is a Mechanical Engineering graduate from IIT Bombay and also qualified in Systems Management from NIIT and Management Studies from UK and USA. He joined Blue Star in 1996 as Vice President - Manufacturing and has over 35 years of experience in manufacturing, materials management and IT projects having worked for companies such as Siemens, BPL-Sanyo and Alstom.

After joining Blue Star, Satish spearheaded the establishment of Blue Star’s modern manufacturing facilities in Dadra, Himachal and Wada. He was also responsible for corporate financial services, airconditioning and refrigeration service, international operations as well as the customised OEM business.

Satish was promoted as Executive Director in 2003, Deputy Managing Director in 2007 and Managing Director in 2009. In his current appointment as Managing Director, Satish oversees the operations and support services of the Company.

Vir S Advani holds a BS degree in System Engineering and a BA degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. He has also completed a comprehensive Executive Management Programme on Leadership Development at Harvard Business School. Vir has been in the Blue Star Group for a decade, after a 2-year working stint in New York.

In 2000, he joined Blue Star Infotech, and then founded Blue Star Design & Engineering in 2003, designated as its Chief Executive Officer. In 2007, he moved to Blue Star as Vice President - Corporate Affairs, where he made valuable contributions in a company-wide profit improvement programme as well as in electro mechanical projects, in a short span of time. He was promoted as Executive Vice President in 2008; President - Corporate Affairs & Special Projects in 2009 and Executive Director w.e.f July 1, 2010.

Vir is also a Director of Blue Star Design & Engineering Limited and J T Advani Finance Private Limited.

Shailesh Haribhakti is a Fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. He is also a Graduate Cost Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Fraud Examiner and Certified Financial Planner. He joined M/s Haribhakti & Co, Chartered Accountants, Mumbai as Deputy Managing Partner in 1978 and is currently its Managing Partner.

Shailesh joined the Board of Blue Star in 2005. In addition to Blue Star, he is also on the Boards of several leading companies such as Ambuja Cement, Akruti, ACC and Pantaloon, amongst others. He has been associated with several institutions and trade associations such as Indian Merchants’ Chamber, Institute of Internal Auditors, Bombay Management Association, ASSOCHAM, Western India Regional Council of ICA and NMIMS. In addition, he is empanelled as an Arbitrator by the Indian Council of Arbitration.

Pradeep Mallick is a B. Tech from IIT Madras and Diploma holder in Business Management from UK. He is also a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Engineering & Technology, London. Pradeep was the Managing Director of Wartsila India Limited from 1988 to 2003, prior to which he worked with several leading companies in the field of electrical power transmission and distribution. He joined the Board of Blue Star in 2003.

Pradeep is also on the Boards of several other leading companies including Elantas Beck India, ESAB India, Mount Everest Mineral Water and Tube Investments of India. In addition, he is associated with Industry Associations such as Confederation of Indian Industry, Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry and social organizations like Population First.

Gurdeep Singh is a Chemical Engineering Graduate from IIT Delhi. After his graduation, he joined Hindustan Lever Limited as a Management Trainee. He held various responsible positions in the Company before he was expatriated to Brazil as Technical Director of Unilever Detergents business.

In 1998, Gurdeep returned to Hindustan Lever as the Director - Human Resources and Corporate Affairs. He retired as Senior Vice President - Corporate Affairs in April 2006. He joined the Board of Blue Star in 2003. He is also on the Boards of Halonix, Gabriel India and Technova India.

Suresh N Talwar is a Commerce & Law Graduate and a solicitor and Partner of M/s Talwar, Thakore & Associates, Mumbai. Before setting up this firm in April 2007, he was the Senior Partner of Crawford Bayley & Company.

He joined the Board of Blue Star in 1986. In addition to Blue Star, he is also on the Boards of several leading companies such as Merck, Cadbury India, Larsen & Toubro, Greaves Cotton, Sandvik Asia, ESAB India, Johnson & Johnson and Uhde India, amongst others.