After joining Tata Group PB Balaji played a significant role to make Tata Motors a debt-free organization and also increased its revenue.
PB Balaji, 54, has steadily established himself as a powerful figure within the Tata Group, particularly due to his strategic insight and financial expertise. Chairman N Chandrasekaran handpicked Balaji in 2017, recruiting him from his previous role as CFO of Hindustan Unilever. Since then, Balaji’s leadership has had a profound impact on Tata Motors’ financial stability and growth.
PB Balaji’s Career
Balaji’s journey began with Unilever in 1995, where he took on multiple finance roles across Asia, the UK, Switzerland, and India. By 2014, he was CFO of Hindustan Unilever, a $6 billion company, and prior to that served as Chief Accountant for Unilever Group in London. He is an alumni of IIT Chennai and holds a postgraduate management degree from IIM Kolkata.
In 2017, after a phone call from N Chandrasekaran, Balaji joined Tata Motors as CFO, replacing C. R. Ramakrishnan. His focus was on improving Tata Motors’ financial performance and operational efficiency. Since his appointment, he has driven cost reductions, enhanced operational efficiency, and reoriented Tata Motors towards profitable growth.
PB Balaji’s Achievement In Tata Group
Under Balaji’s guidance, Tata Motors has achieved significant milestones, including its highest-ever revenue of ₹4.38 lakh crore in FY24. The India business became debt-free, reaching a positive cash position of ₹1,000 crore. Balaji’s emphasis on financial discipline and strategic growth has helped the company to achieve success.
Balaji’s impact within the Tata Group extends beyond Tata Motors. He currently serves on the boards of Air India, Titan, Tata Technologies, and Tata Consumer, strengthening his influence across the conglomerate. His leadership style and financial discipline have made him an invaluable asset to the Group.
Role In Tata Motors Demerger
PB Balaji, the Group Chief Financial Officer at Tata Motors, is taking on a critical role in the planned demerger of Tata Motors into two separate listed entities, according to a report by Mint. With Tata Motors planning to divide its commercial and passenger vehicle businesses, Balaji is emerging as a central figure in the strategic transformation of the automobile giant.
Approved by the Tata Motors Board on March 4, 2024, the demerger is expected to be completed within 15 months.
The two new entities will be, Commercial Vehicles Entity: This entity will hold the commercial vehicles business and related investments and Passenger Vehicles Entity: This will include the passenger vehicles, EVs, and JLR businesses, along with their associated investments.
The demerger is a progression of the PV and EV subsidiarization undertaken in 2022 to harness synergies across EV, PV, and JLR, particularly in areas like autonomous vehicles and advanced vehicle software.
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