Mahindra Susten Appoints Avinash Rao As Its New MD and CEO

Mahindra Susten has named Avinash Rao as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 24. Rao will lead the growth strategy of the renewable energy company, part of the Mahindra Group, and expand the firm's portfolio across the clean energy sector.

"Avinash's deep expertise across the entire energy value chain will enable us to create long-term value for our stakeholders while accelerating the transition to a cleaner energy future," said Anish Shah, Group CEO of Mahindra Group.

Rao brings nearly three decades of experience in conventional energy, power transmission, and renewables. He previously served as CEO of Sustainable Energy Infra Investment Managers, which manages India's largest pure-play renewable energy trust listed on the National Stock Exchange. He has also held senior positions at Edelweiss-backed Sekura India Management and CLP India, where he built and scaled renewable energy businesses.

Mahindra Susten operates over 1.6 GW of commissioned renewable energy projects and has a pipeline of nearly 3.6 GW covering solar, wind, and hybrid developments. The company is also developing energy storage and integrated renewable solutions.

Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, a long-term investor in Mahindra Susten, welcomed the appointment. "We congratulate Avinash Rao and look forward to continuing our strong partnership," said Bruce Crane, Executive Managing Director for Asia-Pacific at Ontario Teachers'.