BS People: R K Upadhyay

Upbeat rewirer

State-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), among the top three in the mobile telephony sector till recently, has been under tremendous pressure due to increased losses and declining market share.

Overcoming the situation will be a daunting task for R K Upadhyay, its new chairman and managing director and the earlier CMD of Telecom Consultants India Ltd. He was selected by a committee headed by Sam Pitroda, advisor to the Prime Minister on public information infrastructure and innovations.

Exuding confidence, Upadhyay said, “A great challenge lies ahead and I am sure we will meet every challenge with determination.”

The turnaround of BSNL is among his top priorities. For the first time since inception, in 2010-11, BSNL posted losses of Rs 1,800 crore.

Upadhyay is the third person to assume the role of CMD in a year.

He took over from S C Mishra, member (services), Telecom Commission, who was interim chief. Prior to that, Gopal Das was named CMD in August 2010, who took over from Kuldeep Goyal.

The appointment process came under the scanner as the earlier panel selected Upadhyay as the eligible candidate last year, under the aegis of former communications minister A Raja. This was challenged in court and another panel was set up under Pitroda this year. It again recommended Upadhyay.

He is from the 1975 batch of the Indian Telecom Services, holding a B.Tech (Electronics) Degree from Banaras Hindu University and an MBA (Marketing Management) degree from Indira Gandhi National Open University. He is also a graduate of Defence Staff Services College, Wellington, and was awarded an M.Sc Degree by Madras University.

Upadhyay has also worked in the department of telecommunications ,in the area of planning, installation, commissioning and operations. He has also worked in BSNL earlier, as general manager for the Jammu & Kashmir circle.