BS People: Vishal Bali

X-ray vision

The promoters of Fortis Healthcare could not have found a better candidate to shape the group’s international vision than Vishal Bali. Elevating him from CEO of subsidiary healthcare companies, the 42-year-old Bali literally has an X-ray view of the healthcare sector.

Starting off as a manager at Mumbai-based Wockhardt group’s healthcare venture, Bali grew to become its CEO and was credited with developing Wockhardt Hospitals into a leading hospital brand in west and south India in 19 years.

Bali’s entry into the Fortis fold took place after the group acquired 10 Wockhardt hospitals last year. Fortis wanted Bali to continue to head the acquired hospitals under a wholly-owned subsidiary of listed Fortis.

Widely seen as being at the vanguard of change in India’s healthcare sector, Bali’s expertise in management analysis, integrating healthcare strategy, as well as operations and management through information technology, has set industry benchmarks, say Fortis promoters.

A management graduate from Bombay University, Bali has completed an advanced programme in hospital management from Boston. Besides serving on the board of Fortis Hospitals, he is a member of the strategic initiatives group of the US Joint Commission International, and on the global agenda healthcare council of the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

Bali will now lead Fortis Global Healthcare, a new company floated by promoters Malvinder and Shivinder Singh, in the creation of a pan-Asia integrated healthcare business.

Bali, who will soon shift to the Singapore headquarters of Fortis Global Healthcare, is hoping that his long years in the healthcare sector and experience in working in the complex Indian environment will help him tap growth opportunities in Asia’s diverse market and beyond.