Profile
Born : 17th August 1941
Education : B.Tech (1964) Metallurgical Engg, IIT Chennai
Master (1966) & PhD (1968) in Mechanical Engg, University of Sask, Canada
Mob # +91-98450 38630 / E-mail: cgkn@siati.org
Brief Profile :
Dr.CG.Krishnadas Nair, Former Chairman Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, is a Padmashree Awardee for outstanding contributions in Engineering Science and Technology. He is an accomplished Chief Executive, winner of Scope Award for excellence in Public Sector Management and Gold Trophy for the Best Chief Executive awarded by Shri.Atal Bihari Vajpayee, then Prime Minister. A graduate from IIT, Chennai and PhD from University of Sask., Canada, he started his career as an Assistant Professor at Karnataka Regional Engineering College, Suratkal, and served as General Manager of a number of Engineering divisions of HAL and became the MD and Chairman of HAL. He is credited for the transformation of HAL from a cost plus to a globally competitive aerospace industry and growth through R&D diversification and developing reliable and cost-effective supply chain partners. He led the HAL’s design & development and production of Advanced Light Helicopter and the Light Combat Aircraft.
After retirement from HAL, he served as the first Vice Chancellor of the newly sanctioned Mahaveer Academy of Technology and Science University at Raipur, Chhattisgarh. He served as a full-term member of the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet of India (1999-2003) and as AICTE-INAE Distinguished visiting Professor at IIT Chennai. On invitation from Government of Kerala, he served as the MD of Cochin International Airport and Chairman of Cochin International Airport Services Ltd from 2008 to 2011 and was the architect for its modernization and growth. CIAL is now the number one Airport in the world in terms of profitability and one of the top green and clean airports in the world – Won UN Award for its Solar energy utilization being the world’s only airport meeting total energy requirements from Solar power. He served as Chancellor of the Jain (Deemed-to-be- University), Bangalore from 2011 to 2021, during which he founded the International Institute for Aerospace and Management as part of the Jain University with participation of Aerospace Industries and National Research Organisations. He was also appointed by President of India as Chairman Board of Governing Council, National Institute of Technology, Calicut and served from 2011-2014. After demitting the office of Chancellor, he is serving as Sardar Vallabhai Patel National Professor and Advisor to Jain-Deemed-to-be-University.
He is associated with a number of Professional Associations, Founder President Society of Indian Aerospace Technologies & Industries, Founder President of Society for Professional Ethics and Management, President of Indian Institute of Metals (1998-1999), President of Aeronautical Society of India (1995-1997), Fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineers, Fellow of Institution of Engineers India and founder of Society for Professional Ethics and Management.
He is a recipient of several awards for science & technology, management and social work. These include ‘Padmashri Award by Government of India’ (2001), ‘National Aeronautical Prize’ (1990),’ ‘Birla Gold Medal’ (1988), ‘National Metallurgist Award’ (2003), ‘Vasvik Research Award’ (1992), ‘Shri Omprakash Bhasin Award for Space & Aerospace’ (1996), ‘Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award’ (1997), ‘Scope Award for Excellence for the Best Managed Public Sector (HAL 2003) and Prime Minister’s Gold Plaque’ for the Best Chief Executive (2003) and ‘Swadeshi Sasthra Puraskara’ (2000), ‘Dr.Ambedkar Bharat Shree Award’ (2001) for social service. He is also recipient of the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award from Indian National Academy of Engineering’ (INAE) (2007) and ‘Lifetime Achievement Award from Indian Institute of Metals’ 2017.
He has published as on date 264 Technical and Research Papers in National and International Journals and 25 books covering subjects ranging from Engineering, Management, Ethics and Religious Harmony and Social Reforms.
Professional Experience :
Over five decades of professional career spanning teaching research, industrial R&D, Industry leadership as General Manager / Managing Director / Chairman, and Academic leadership as Professor, Vice Chancellor and Chancellor.
Chronologically listed below:
| 1 | 1965-1968 | Internal Nickel Co Research Fellow, University of Saskatchewan, Canada |
| 2 | 1968-1969 | Asst. Professor, Karnataka Regional Engineering College, (Now NIT-Suratkal) |
| 3 | 1969-1971 | Visiting Scientist (NRC Fellowship) University of Sheffield, UK |
| 4 | 1971-1973 | Manager Helicopter Design and Development, Helicopter Division HAL |
| 5 | 1973-1976 | Senior Manager, Corporate Planning & Development, HAL |
| 6 | 1976-1978 | Chief of Central Materials & Process Laboratory, HAL |
| 7 | 1978-1986 | Dy. General Manager/General Manager, (Manufacturing and R&D), Foundry & Forge division, HAL |
| 8 | 1986-1988 | General Manager, Aero Engine Division, HAL |
| 9 | 1989-1997 | Managing Director, HAL, Bangalore Complex (consisting of Aircraft division, Helicopter division, Aerospace Division, Aero Engine division, Aircraft, Overhaul division and Foundry & Forge division. |
| 10 | 1997-2001 | Corporate Chairman, HAL (consisting of HAL Bangalore Complex, MiG Complex, (Nasik & Koraput), Accessories complex, (Lucknow, Hyderabad, Korwa & Kanpur) |
| 11 | 2001-2003 | AICTE-INAE Distinguished Professor IIT Chennai |
| 12 | 2003-2008 | Vice Chancellor and Chairman Academic Council, Mahaveer Academy of Technology and Science University (MATS), Chhattisgarh |
| 13 | 2008-2011 | Managing Director, Cochin International Airport Ltd, Chairman, Cochin International Airport Services Ltd |
| 14 | 2011-2014 | Chairperson, Board of Governance, NIT, Calicut |
| 15 | 2010-2021 | Chancellor – Jain Deemed to be University, Bangalore |
| 16 | 2011- onwards | Chairman – Governing Council of International Institute for Aerospace Engineering & Management (IIAEM), Bangalore |
| 17 | 2022 onwards | Sardar Vallabhai Patel National Professor and Advisor to Jain-Deemed-to-be-University |
POSITIONS HELD IN CORPORATE BOARDS.
- Chairman, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, (1997-2001)
- Managing Director, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, (1990-1997)
- Chairman, BAeHAL Software Private Limited, Bangalore (1993-94 & 1997-01)
- Chairman, Indo-Russian Aviation Ltd, Delhi (1997-01)
- MD, Cochin International Airport Ltd., Cochin (May 2008 - June 2011)
- Chairman, Cochin International Aviation Services Ltd., Cochin (May2008– June 2011)
- Member Board, Kerala Hitech Industries Limited, Trivandrum (1992-94)
- Member Board, Bharat Aluminium Company Limited, New Delhi (1990-93)
- Member Board, MIDHANI, Hyderabad (1989 - 1997)
- Member Board, National Aluminum Company, Bhubaneswar (1987-89)
- Chairman, Karnataka Hybrid Micro Electronics Devices, Bangalore (2002-2014)
- Chairman, Titan Time Products Ltd., Goa (2011-2016)
- Director, Board, Tata Advanced Materials Limited, Bangalore (2003-2016)
- Director, Board, Titan Industries, Bangalore (2002-2016)
- Director, Board, BrahMos Thiruvananthapuram Ltd.(Indo-Russian JV) (2008 onwards)
- Director, Board, Global Vectra Helicopter Ltd., Mumbai (2006 onwards)
- Director, Board, Sika Inter Plant Systems Ltd., Bangalore (2007 onwards)
POSITIONS HELD IN ACADEMIC COUNCILS AND R&D COUNCILS:
| 1 | Chancellor – Jain Deemed to be University, Bangalore (2010- 2021) |
| 2 | Chairperson Board of Governors, National Institute of Technology, Calicut (2011-2014) |
| 3 | Chairperson Governing Council, International Institute for Aerospace Engineering & Management (IIAEM), Bangalore (2011 onwards) |
| 4 | Member, Academic & Governing Council Dr.Ambedkar Institute of Technology, Bangalore (1998 onwards) |
| 5 | Chancellor and Chairman Academic Council Mahaveer Academy of Technology & Science, University (MATS) Chhattisgarh (2003-2007) |
| 6 | Member of the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet, Govt. of India. (1999-2003) |
| 7 | Member Academic Council of Karnataka Regional Engineering College, Mangalore (now NIT-Surathkal (1996-99) |
| 8 | Member, Research Council, Regional Research Laboratory, CSIR, Trivandram (1990-94) |
| 9 | Member, Research Council, National Aerospace Laboratories, Bangalore (1990-2000) |
| 10 | Member, Governing Council, Jawaharlal Nehru Research and Development, Centre for Aluminium, Nagpur, Ministry of Steel and Mines (1990-95) |
| 11 | Member, Standing Scientific Advisory Committee, Department of Steel and Mines, GoI (1986-92) |
| 12 | Member/Co-ordinator, Materials and Process Panel, Aeronautics Research and Development Board, Ministry of Defence, Govt of India (1980- 1986). |
POSITIONS HELD IN PROFESSIONAL BODIES
- Founder President - Society of Indian Aerospace Technologies & Industries
- President - Indian Institute of Metals (1998-1999)
- President - Aeronautical Society of India (1995 to 1997)
- Council Member - Indian National Academy of Engg (INAE) (2008-2014)
- Co-Founder & 1st President - Society of Defense Technologists (SODET) (2001-2004)
- President - Society for Professional Ethics and Management (2008 onwards)