CII GreenCo Council Announces Leadership Transition: Mr. Vikram Kasbekar Assumes Role as New Chairman, Succeeding Mr. Pradeep Bhargava
Mr.
Vikram Kasbekar, Chairman, GreenCo Council
The
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) proudly announces a significant
leadership transition at its GreenCo Council, marking a new chapter in
advancing sustainable industrial growth across India. Mr. Vikram Kasbekar has
taken over as Chairman of the GreenCo Council, succeeding Mr. Pradeep Bhargava,
who has served with distinction since 2011.
During
his more than a decade-long tenure, Mr. Bhargava has been instrumental in
driving the GreenCo movement from its inception into a pioneering industry-led
sustainability framework. Under his visionary leadership, GreenCo expanded to
cover over 1,500 companies and 1,000+ rated plants spanning 27 sectors. The
Council’s initiatives have delivered more than ₹5,136 crores in cost savings,
driven significant reductions in carbon emissions, and promoted effective
resource conservation and water management across industries. GreenCo’s
reputation has grown to become a recognized benchmark in voluntary green rating
systems, featuring in national and international forums including the United
Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and India’s Intended
Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) submitted under the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Mr.
Bhargava’s stewardship also saw the GreenCo Council broaden its scope to
embrace net zero pathways, water positivity, circular economy principles, and
green supply chains, positioning Indian industry as a global leader in
sustainable development. He played a catalytic role in fostering partnerships
with central and state governments, regulatory bodies, industry groups, and
academic institutions to deepen the impact of GreenCo standards.
Expressing
his wholehearted confidence in Mr. Vikram Kasbekar’s leadership as the incoming
Chairman, Mr. Pradeep Bhargava stated, “It is with great pride and satisfaction
that I hand over the reins of GreenCo to Mr. Vikram Kasbekar. His expertise and
passion for sustainability make him the ideal leader to advance GreenCo’s
mission and navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Taking
charge, Mr. Vikram Kasbekar acknowledged the strong foundation laid by his
predecessor and outlined his strategic vision for the Council’s future.
“GreenCo today is a powerful movement with over 1,000 active rated plants
across multiple sectors, tens of thousands of trained professionals, and
growing regional forums driving sustainability action at scale. My goal is to
accelerate this momentum by expanding GreenCo’s footprint across industries,
increasing grassroots engagement through more regional chapters, and scaling
capacity building to equip professionals with critical sustainability skills,”
he said.
Mr.
Kasbekar emphasized the importance of fostering green supply chains and
introducing rigorous net zero certifications for water, waste, and carbon
footprints within value chains. This will enhance accountability, trust, and
measurable impact across industrial ecosystems. He also underscored the role of
innovation and technology, including artificial intelligence and IoT-based
monitoring, to revolutionize environmental performance management.
Looking
ahead, GreenCo aims to deepen sector-specific programs, particularly in
hard-to-abate industries such as steel, cement, and chemicals, while
reinforcing collaborations with government, international partners, and
academia. The GreenCo Forum will continue to be a vibrant platform for
knowledge sharing, best practice exchange, and collective progress toward
India’s national climate and sustain ability goals.