Mr. Bontha Prasad Rao aged 65 years is a Mechanical Engineering Graduate from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Kakinada. He holds a Post Graduate in Industrial Engineering from NITIE, Mumbai. Mr. Rao has served as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), India till 31st December 2015. During a career spanning more than 37 years, Mr. Rao handled a varied assignments and has diversified, versatile and varied experience both in strategic as well as operational areas in all business segments of BHEL. He has held many senior level positions in BHEL and was elevated to the Board of BHEL in 2007 and as its Chairman & Managing Director in 2009. Mr. Rao laid the foundation for diversifying BHEL into non-power businesses such as in Railway transportation, Defence equipment etc. Forbes magazine ranked BHEL at No. 9 of World’s Most Innovative companies in July 2011. He has been the Chairman of CII Public Sector Enterprises Council, and was on the Board of Governors of IIM, Kashipur.