Leadership team

Dr.Vijay Mhetar is an R&D executive and chemical engineer dedicated to turning scientific breakthroughs into scalable, commercial realities. As CEO of Aditya Birla Science and Technology Company Limited (ABSTCL), he leads the team in developing and commercializing technologies that drive exceptional value for the Aditya Birla Group.

Across a career that includes roles as Chief Technology Officer at Kraton Corporation, Founder and CEO of Notark Corporation, and Senior Vice President of Global Technology at General Cable, Dr. Mhetar has built a track record of driving organic growth. He has led global teams in the development and commercialization of new-to-the-world products that have generated over USD 1 billion in cumulative sales.

His portfolio of innovations features award-winning breakthroughs, including Flexible Noryl® (GE Ecomagination Award), TransPowr® E3X (Edison Award), NexarCool (Global Cooling Prize), and BiaXam® (IChemE Award). Most recently, at Notark, his teams launched pioneering technologies in electronic materials, such as Notark® resin for printed circuit boards and chip packaging, and functionalized polymers such as TuffPEM® and TuffAEM® for advanced energy applications. He is a recognized innovator and the inventor or co-inventor of more than 90 patents and patent applications.

Dr.Mhetar holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Texas A&M University and an M.Tech. in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay.

Joint President,
Aditya Birla Science and Technology Company Private Limited

Chief Technology Officer,
Aluminium Upstream & Copper, Hindalco Industries Limited

Dr Vilas Tathavadkar is Function Head and responsible for Metals and Mining portfolios in ABSTCPL. He looks after the Copper and Aluminium Upstream (Alumina and Smelting) processing and technologies.

Vilas has worked earlier with Tata Steel R&D as Principle Researcher and worked closely with Ferro-Alloys and Titania Business units of Tata Steel. In 2008 he became head of Ferro-Alloys and New Business research group and later led research in the area of iron making and agglomeration. In 2012, he was promoted as a Chief Researcher of Iron-making and Ferro-Alloys research group.

Vilas began his career in research in 1991 as Scientist at Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET), Hyderabad and worked on development of ultra high purity metals for electronics applications. After completion of Ph D, he worked as Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at Institute for Materials Research, University of Leeds, UK in 2002 on development of process technologies for extraction of titania and titanium and inert anodes.

Vilas holds a B. Tech in Metallurgical Engineering from College of Engineering, Pune; M. Tech in Materials Science from Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay and PhD in Extractive Metallurgy from University of Leeds, UK.

Dr Shirish Thakre is Function Head and responsible for Pulp & Fibre, Textiles and Chemicals portfolios within ABSTCPL. Prior to this role, Shirish was Assistant Vice President and responsible for projects in pulp & fibre, chemicals & process engineering. He handled the responsibility of developing portfolio on Copper and Alumina research as General Manager since 2007.

Shirish joined ABSTC in 2005 as Deputy General Manager and played an important role in the organizational growth and development of vital business portfolios. Prior to joining ABSTCPL, he was with Satyam Computers Ltd., as Assistant Consultant and worked with Cummins Research and Technology India on deputation for simulation based research on engine exhaust filters and manifold designs.

Shirish began his career with General Electric India Technology Center in 2000 as process engineer. In a four year span, he was involved in the process development and engineering of green process for GE Plastics and was conferred with Innovation and team excellence award.

Shirish earned his PhD in Chemical Engineering from ICT (erstwhile UDCT), Mumbai and Post-doctoral fellowship from INSA, France. He has numerous research publications and process patents to his credit.

Dr Ram Narayanan is Function Head and responsible for Cement & Carbon Black portfolios within ABSTCPL. Ram has over 23 years of experience in the fields of materials chemistry and engineering polymers. He has led R&D teams in both USA and in India towards new product development and commercialisation. His expertise includes tailoring ceramic, polymeric and coating formulations to address evolving market needs in construction, automotive and electronics segments. He has experience in designing technology strategy for the businesses by identifying strengths and differentiation opportunities. He has led cross-functional teams and projects to develop and launch products across the globe. He has led teams that successfully commercialised products such as environmentally friendly fiberglass products, sanitaryware with antimicrobial surfaces, heat and flame-resistant polymer composites, corrosion and scratch resistant coatings for multiple substrates etc.

Ram obtained his Ph.D in Materials chemistry from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA and worked in USA for 13 years after that, in companies such as PPG Industries, American Standard and Celanese Chemicals. He relocated to India in 2011 and has since worked in Carborundum Universal Limited and in Momentive Performance Materials, in R & D and business leadership roles. He was responsible for establishing the R & D teams to develop new value-added products in multiple segments ranging from agricultural inputs and chemicals to electronics and aerospace applications.

Ram is a certified Six Sigma champion and has mentored many teams in adapting statistical tools and project management techniques effectively in new product development. He has received a Customer Focused Growth & Innovation award for his work in flame retardant polymer composite development while at Celanese Chemicals and a New application focus award for his work in abrasion resistant ceramic polymer composites, while at Carborundum Universal Limited.