Mahindra Susten Appoints Avinash Rao as MD and CEO
Mahindra Susten has appointed Avinash Rao as its new Managing Director and CEO, effective September 24, 2025, to drive the company’s expansion across the renewable energy value chain.
August 25, 2025. By Mrinmoy Dey
In this role, Avinash will lead Mahindra Susten's ambitious growth strategy, steering the company towards an expanded and diversified portfolio across the renewable energy value chain, the company said in a statement.
Mahindra Susten has a portfolio of 1.6 GW of commissioned projects and a robust pipeline of nearly 3.6 GW across solar, wind, hybrid projects, and Commercial and Industrial (C&I) solutions. The company is also actively building capabilities in emerging areas such as energy storage and integrated renewable energy solutions.
Speaking on the appointment, Dr. Anish Shah, Group CEO and MD, Mahindra Group, said, “At Mahindra, sustainability and climate action are not just priorities; they are core to our purpose. We are setting benchmarks in ESG and sustainability, and Susten plays a pivotal role in accelerating this vision. With 15 years of legacy in renewable energy and having a diversified portfolio, Susten is well-positioned to lead India's renewable energy transition. Avinash's deep expertise across the entire energy value chain – from platform creation to investment and operational excellence – will enable us to create long-term value for our stakeholders while accelerating the transition to a cleaner energy future.”
Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, a long-term investor in Mahindra Susten, also welcomed the appointment. Bruce Crane, Executive Managing Director and Head of Asia-Pacific at Ontario Teachers', said, “We congratulate Avinash Rao on his appointment and look forward to continuing our strong partnership with Mahindra Susten. The company has established itself as a key player in India’s renewable energy sector and we are pleased to support its ongoing efforts to deliver reliable, high-quality clean energy solutions.”
Avinash Rao brings nearly three decades of experience across conventional energy, power transmission, and renewable energy sectors. He has the rare distinction of building energy platforms from scratch across multinational utilities, infrastructure funds, and NSE-listed InvITs.
Most recently, he served as CEO of Sustainable Energy Infra Investment Managers Pvt. Ltd., the Investment Manager to Sustainable Energy Infra Trust (SEIT), a pure-play Renewable Energy InvIT listed on the National Stock Exchange.
Prior to that, he held leadership roles at Edelweiss Alternatives backed Sekura India Management Ltd. and CLP India, where he was instrumental in building, acquiring, managing and scaling renewable energy businesses to new heights.
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