INDIA: Suzlon going global; headhunting top honchos

In a bid to strengthen its global business, Suzlon Energy (SEL) has appointed Andre Horbach as the chief executive officer and planning recruit new chief technology officer, chief finance officer and chief manufacturing officer from Europe. As the new CEO, Mr Horbach will operate from the recently established global group management office in Amsterdam. The recruitment of the other heads will be completed by March 2007.

The company is expected to appoint India president in this quarter. Tulsi R Tanti, chairman and managing director, SEL told ET that the president will be an Indian, who has experience and knowledge on the domestic industry. Mr Horbach was the CEO and President of GE Consumer & Industrial.

For integration of business and expand value chain, SEL has spin off its project, erection and commissioning business in India from Suzlon Infrastructure to the wholly owned subsidiary Suzlon Windfarm Services. The change will be effective from the next quarter.

Belgium-based Hansen Transmissions International, a step-down subsidiary of SEL, is planning to setup a gearbox factory with an investment of $220 million for manufacturing gearboxes for wind turbines. The project is planned near coimbatore and is slated to be operational by the end of 2008. It is estimated that the factory will reach its full production capacity by early 2010 with an output of 1,500 to 2,000 gearboxes per annum and would generate over 600 job opportunities in Coimbatore. The company is planning to establish a knowledge and technology centre in Germany and it will establish an innovation center for wind technology in Denmark.

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