Airbus India’s helicopter division to be led by Ashish Saraf

Airbus Group has taken yet another step in the direction to realise its ‘Make in India’ plans, appointing Ashish Saraf as Vice-President – Industry Development, Strategic Partnerships and Offsets. Saraf will head of the helicopter division of Airbus India. He will also drive the Group’s existing ‘Make in India’ initiatives and conceive new ones for all the businesses of Airbus Group India with the aim to increase their industrial footprint here. The move comes close on the heels of Airbus Group uniting its Divisions in India under a single company.
“Ashish is a dynamic Indian executive with experience in leading industrialisation initiatives in the aerospace and defence sector. Having him as a part of our India management team with the mandate to expand our local industrial partnerships is a shot in the arm for our ‘Make in India’ plans,” said Pierre de Bausset, President, Airbus Group India.
“Airbus Group’s ambition is to be a benchmark setting company when it comes to realising the ‘Make in India’ vision of the Indian government. I look forward to supporting the Group fulfil its ambition while helping my country meet its indigenisation goals. I feel privileged to be in this role at a company which has put ‘Make in India’ front and centre of its India strategy,” said Saraf.
Prior to joining Airbus Group, Saraf was the India head of the Tata Sikorsky joint venture since 2010 and led Sikorsky’s industrialisation and strategic partnerships in India. An industry veteran with an extensive experience in offsets, industrial relations, greenfield start-up development and strategic partnerships, Saraf started his career with Dassault Systems and Deloitte Consulting.