Mahindra Susten, the cleantech arm of Mahindra Group and a key independent power producer in India, has announced the appointment of industry veteran Avinash Rao as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 24, 2025. Rao is set to drive Mahindra Susten’s ambitious growth strategy, guiding its efforts to expand and diversify across the complete renewable energy value chain—including solar, wind, hybrid, and commercial/industrial solutions.
A Deep Bench of Experience in Energy
Rao brings nearly three decades of experience in conventional energy, power transmission, and especially the renewable sector. He has built energy platforms from the ground up across multinational utilities, infrastructure funds, and listed InvITs. Most recently, Rao served as CEO of Sustainable Energy Infra Investment Managers Pvt. Ltd., the Investment Manager to SEIT, India’s largest listed renewable InvIT. He has also held leadership positions at approaches such as Sekura India Management Limited and CLP India, where he played a pivotal role in scaling renewable businesses.
Susten’s Ambitious Energy and ESG Agenda
With over 1.6 GW of commissioned projects and a robust pipeline nearing 3.6 GW—including solar, wind, and hybrid—Mahindra Susten is also rapidly adding new capabilities in energy storage and integrated renewables. The company is focused on setting industry benchmarks in clean energy reliability, operational excellence, diversity, governance, and ESG practices. Mahindra Group’s Dr. Anish Shah underscored Susten’s pivotal role in the group’s climate action vision, stressing that sustainability is central to Mahindra’s purpose and Susten drives much of this agenda.
Endorsement from Key Investors and Outlook
Bruce Crane, Executive MD and Head of Asia-Pacific at Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (a long-term Mahindra Susten investor), welcomed the appointment, citing Susten’s emergence as a leading renewables player in India and affirming ongoing partnership with Rao at the helm. With this strategic leadership change, Mahindra Susten further reinforces its commitment to shaping India’s energy transition, scaling innovation, and delivering reliable, high-value clean energy solutions for a sustainable future.
