Powering progress: Shirish Prasad

There have been many milestones in the career of Navitasys India Managing Director Shirish Prasad. Chosen to lead TDK Group’s lithium-ion battery manufacturing offshoot in 2019, his leadership has steered the company from startup to one of the most trusted names in the sector.

"What truly sets us apart, and what I consider one of our proudest achievements, is our strategic push toward building an Industry 4.0-driven manufacturing ecosystem," he tells The CEO Magazine.

Prasad’s vision for Navitasys India has set new benchmarks for what a battery manufacturer can be. One of the fastest-growing companies in India, it produces smartphone batteries, power banks, micro EV batteries and printed circuit board assembly manufacturing.

Prasad’s leadership has earned him the loyalty and respect of his team and his industry peers. As a result, he’s among the finalists in this year’s Executive of the Year Awards – India.

"Professionally, being named a finalist is a validation of the entire Navitasys team’s commitment, resilience and innovation," he says. "It reminds me that we’re on the right path and encourages us to aim even higher."

Personally, he adds, it’s a humbling acknowledgement of his hard work, as well as a celebration of what a focused, values-driven and future-ready organization can achieve.

"Leadership to me is not about controlling every decision, but about fostering trust, setting standards and holding ourselves collectively accountable," he explains. "I strive to lead by example – by maintaining discipline, staying grounded and always being open to learning."

Prasad says being able to achieve all this in India is a reward in itself.

"We have a bold commitment to bringing global-quality manufacturing to India through automation, sustainability and innovation," he confirms.

On the rise

The sophistication of Navitasys India’s flagship production facility at Bawal and second plant at Manesar reflect the company’s desire to advance the country’s status as a global manufacturing hub on the rise.

"Our goal is to be the trusted partner for energy solutions that meet evolving performance, safety and sustainable requirements, while also contributing to the development of a strong energy tech ecosystem in India," Prasad reveals.

The heights the business has reached under his forward-thinking stewardship include capturing the lion’s share of smartphone battery manufacturing in India by serving top global brands with high-quality, high-performance battery solutions.

"We have also diversified into new segments, including laptop batteries, broadening our presence in the portable device market. Notably, we’re expanding into the rapidly growing micro EV segment, in addition to serving the consumer electronics space," he adds.

Despite the global tumult during his time in the role, Prasad says it only reinforced for him the importance of resilience, agility and forward planning.

"I’ve learned to place greater emphasis on scenario-based planning and risk diversification," he says. "We’ve adopted digital tools to improve supply chain visibility and decision-making, and we’ve developed stronger relationships with both upstream and downstream partners without compromising our commitment to sustainability."

The COVID-19 pandemic years also served to highlight the human side of leadership, he adds.

"I was reminded to be more compassionate, communicative and flexible in dealing with both personal and professional challenges."

On the other side of that turbulent era, demand for electrification is growing across countries and industries. Prasad says Navitasys India has a pivotal role to play in this exciting new landscape.

"Looking ahead, we have a chance to redefine the future of battery technology," he enthuses. "We aim to become a center of excellence for sustainable energy storage solutions, delivering smart, safe and scalable batteries for a wide range of operations."

People first

In a relatively short space of time, Navitasys India has set itself and its products apart through the integration of advanced simulation models as well as failure mode and effects analysis into its production development cycle.

"These tools enable us to proactively identify and mitigate potential performance issues long before products reach the market," Prasad explains.

"Equally important are our vertically integrated operations and highly automated Industry 4.0-ready assembly line, which allow us to maintain precision, consistency and scalability."

The company’s focus on localizing production and reducing import dependency has allowed for seamless alignment with the country’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative. For Prasad, it’s just another win for Navitasys India’s effective team.

"The best piece of leadership advice I’ve ever received was, ‘Lead people, not processes.’ Systems and processes are crucial for operational efficiency, but it is people who drive innovation, quality and growth," he says.

"Navitasys is not just producing batteries. We’re building trust, enabling clean mobility and contributing to a future where energy is accessible, efficient and environmentally responsible."