Working with National Engineering Industries Ltd for 25+ years makes him a well-respected bearings maestro.
Mr. Rohit Saboo’s journey within the company starts with him as the Executive Assistant to the former Chairman and renowned industrialist Mr Chandra Kant Birla, to becoming the Head of R&D and Manufacturing and finally taking over the reins as President and CEO at NEI. National Engineering Industries
National Engineering Industries(NEI) was established in 1946. Bearings are machine components used for reducing friction for smooth rotation and are commonly used in the automotive, railway and industrial sectors. NEI has been a leading manufacturer and exporter in the industry for over six decades. The company exports to 21 countries spreading across five continents including the US, Japan, Australia, Germany and Brazil.“It was the best learning experience for me.”
Rohit graduated from Birla Institute of Technology in Ranchi and did his MBA in Rochester Institute of Technology, NY. After completing his Senior Executive Program from Columbia, he started working as Executive Assistant to the prestigious Mr. C K Birla. When asked about it, he says
“ I worked with him for 4 and a half years and let’s just say that it was the best learning opportunity for me. The kind of experience I have gotten while working with him, the kind of person he is – he would explain everything to me such as explaining why things happen and he kept me involved in all the company’s ventures. We had hired a few growth consultants back then for a few projects and I was involved in everything. I would say that this was a wonderful learning experience for me and I think that this was when I had matured in terms of my thinking wherein I was faster than other people at my age.”
At the Helm
Rohit was instated as the Head of R&D and Manufacturing back in 2000, but it wasn’t an easy progression, he admits. He sensed a need to change the long-established ways of the company.
“There were a lot of people and inessential practices and I wanted to improve the quality of our products,” he says.
(Cont PDF)