GBS Raju is the Business Chairman – Airports at GMR Group and has been a member of the Board since 1999. He has played a central role in shaping the Group’s growth across energy, airports, finance, digital transformation, and social responsibility.

He began his career as the Managing Director of GMR Energy Limited, where he was responsible for setting up the Group’s pioneering 220 MW barge‑mounted power plant. In this early phase, he gained hands‑on experience in project development, execution and operations in a capital‑intensive, highly regulated sector - experience that proved foundational for GMR’s subsequent expansion in energy and other infrastructure verticals.

From 2012 to 2017, as Chairman of the Energy Sector, Mr. Raju oversaw the implementation of multiple power generation plants and associated transmission projects at various stages of development, with an aggregate capacity of about 7,500 MW. Under his leadership, the Energy business strengthened its project development and execution capabilities while navigating a dynamic policy and market environment.

As Group Chief Financial Officer, he successfully led GMR Infrastructure’s maiden IPO in 2006 and several significant capital‑raising initiatives thereafter including Qualified Institutional Placements (QIPs) and private equity investments across 2007, 2010, and 2011, collectively amounting to approximately USD 3 billion across the Energy and Airport sectors. This period was critical in strengthening the Group’s balance sheet, funding its growth pipeline and enhancing its profile in global capital markets.

In his current role, Mr. Raju leads the Airport sector and oversees GMR’s airport portfolio development in India and internationally. He has been a key architect of GMR’s airport journey, guiding the development of Hyderabad and Delhi International Airports and contributing to the Group’s international expansion, including Sabiha Gökçen International Airport in Istanbul and the Bhogapuram Greenfield Airport project in Andhra Pradesh. Under his leadership, GMR’s airport platform has grown into a globally recognised portfolio with a strong track record in public–private partnerships, greenfield development, and brownfield expansion.

He also leads the GMR Varalakshmi Foundation, the Group’s CSR arm, and spearheads Information Technology and Digitalization initiatives across GMR. Recognising technology as a strategic enabler of operational efficiency, safety, customer experience, and governance, he has driven digital transformation across the organisation.

Across his responsibilities, Mr. Raju combines financial discipline, project execution focus and a deep commitment to institution‑building. Whether in energy, airports, digital transformation or community development through GMR Varalakshmi Foundation, his work reflects the Group’s broader philosophy of creating sustainable, world‑class infrastructure while contributing to the long‑term wellbeing of the communities and stakeholders it serves.

Back