R. Velusamy, President of the Automotive Business at Mahindra & Mahindra, has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences for his leadership and contribution to the automotive industry.
Velusamy, who is also Managing Director of Mahindra Electric Automobile Ltd., received the honour at the institute’s 33rd convocation ceremony on July 4.
Addressing the graduating students, Velusamy called for a greater focus on lifelong learning, innovation and values-led leadership.
He urged graduates to approach challenges with confidence and use their knowledge to make a meaningful contribution to society.
Velusamy also highlighted the growth of India’s innovation ecosystem and said the country must move from being a consumer of technology to becoming a creator and global leader in technological development.
He said competence, integrity, compassion and continuous learning would be critical qualities for future leaders as industries and technologies continue to evolve.
Velusamy joined Mahindra & Mahindra in 1996 and began his career in the company’s powertrain division, where he led the development of the mHawk engine family. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Madras and a Bachelor of Technology in Automobile Engineering from Anna University’s Madras Institute of Technology. He has also attended executive programmes at Wharton Business School and Michigan Ross School of Business, besides completing the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.