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Born in 1984, Rajiv Poddar is currently the Jt. Managing Director of Balkrishna Industries Ltd., a business conglomerate with a turnover exceeding $850 million. BKT is producing and exporting Off-Highway Tires (for agricultural, industrial and construction as well as earthmoving, port and mining applications).

BKT is today considered to be amongst the few homegrown multinational companies to have created a globally successful brand, led from the front, and fueled by the exemplary foresight and passion of Mr. Rajiv Poddar.

Rajiv completed his Graduation in Business Management from the Kingston University in London. He then joined his father, noted industrialist Arvind Poddar at BKT. He currently resides in Mumbai with his family, which comprises his wife and two daughters.

Growing up in an entrepreneurial family means that business becomes a sort of second nature at a tender age. Full of youthful curiosity, Rajiv easily picked up skills and business insights by observing, listening, and following current trends in the marketplace. Nevertheless, he trained extensively at the company's plants learning about the manufacturing processes & travelled across the globe to get an insight of BKT's Off-Highway Tire markets, thereby developing a deep understanding of all aspects of the business.  

He focused on the 3 M's – Man, Machine & Method to lead BKT's ambitious charge.

An effervescent personality, he is known for his approachability & team building skills. He ensured that people across levels were empowered to add value across all levels. 

R&D and new product development received increased focus and attention, with the adoption of the most state of the art technology. His areas of expertise include Strategic Planning, Project conception & oversight, Marketing, Customer engagement & Board Collaboration. 

He brought in radical changes, developed business strategies and professionalised & evolved internal systems. 

His customer centric focus and innovative approach has ensured that BKT is rated as the company with the most responsive industry standards.

It was under his dynamic leadership that BKT has established its new greenfield plant at Bhuj (Gujarat), which today, is amongst the most modern and state-of-the-art factories in the world. It has been built on a land mass of over 400 acres with investments around US$ 750 Million. This dream project of his father, efficiently executed by Rajiv, at Bhuj is now in full production, and is proving to be a game changer in the Off-highway Tire Industry. 

  

An avid sports enthusiast, Rajiv loves treadmill, actively participates in marathons and plays or follows cricket in his free time. Due to this passion for sports, BKT is now a prominent brand associated with sports sponsorships worldwide. Be it Football in Europe or Cricket in Australia and India and various other regional sport in India like Kabaddi, Rajiv has been instrumental in clinching the deals for sponsorship of prominent sports leagues in the target markets. The latest & greatest of all sponsorship deals has been finalized in September 2019 with LaLiga, considered as the Mecca by football enthusiasts. 

Rajiv is also active in various CSR activities, which has led to the establishment of “BKT : We Care” foundation, which focuses on Health & Education for the needy children