Oerlikon Group targets aggressive growth in India, Drive System segment’s worldwide CEO to be based in Delhi

May 6, 2013: Marking the Oerlikon Group’s thrust on Asia as a key market for its drive systems, it has announced that Heriberto Diarte, global CEO of Oerlikon Drive Systems (pictured), will now be based in, and will operate from, New Delhi.

The 46-year-old Diarte, who joined Oerlikon in December 2012, has held executive positions in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa and has global business experience. His last assignment was as managing director at Alstom Transport, a Paris based high-tech industrial company in the power generation & distribution and rail sectors. He holds an MBA from Stanford University and a MPA from Harvard.

India is already a key market for Oerlikon’s drive systems’ segment and based on the growth strategy and planned investments, the country’s importance for the Group will keep increasing, according to the company. Commenting on the move, Khurshed Thanawalla, country representative, Oerlikon India, said: “India is key to Oerlikon’s ambitious growth plans, and the relocation of one of Drive Systems’ CEO is reflective of this. India is important as a market as well as a manufacturing hub for Drive Systems and we would benefit from Heriberto Diarte being based out of India.”

Oerlikon Drive Systems manufactures high-performance gearboxes, transmission equipment and shifting solutions for heavy duty on highway and off-road equipment. Its product portfolio includes dual clutch and continuously variable transmissions, transmission synchronizers, axles, Torque-Hub planetary final drives and precision gear components and assemblies. Oerlikon Drive Systems is the second largest division in the company with a turnover of CHF 826 million (Rs 4,708 crore). Out of its total workforce of 5,500 employees, 2,500 employees are based in India. With two subsidiaries Oerlikon Graziano and Oerlikon Fairfield and their major production plants in Noida and Belgaum respectively, the company caters to OEMs both in India and overseas. In India, it supplies to Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, JCB and the India operations of New Holland, John Deere and Carraro.