Industry Veteran F. R. Singhvi takes over as President, ASDC

Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC), sole sector skill council in India supported by the Indian automobile industry, announced the nomination of Auto component industry veteran F R Singhvi, as its next President. Concurrently, Vinkesh Gulati has been appointed as Vice President. These appointments come as ASDC marks its biennial leadership transition at its Annual General Meeting (AGM).

F R Singhvi’s appointment as President follows the successful tenure of Vinod Aggarwal (President SIAM and MD & CEO, Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles Ltd), who has played a pivotal role in steering ASDC’s growth over the past two years. During his tenure, ASDC’s notable achievements include the launching of the National Automotive Olympiad, facilitating over 1 lakh apprenticeships through NAPS, and increasing ASDC’s outreach to all corners of India by organizing job fairs for communities in remote areas. ASDC has also expanded its perspective to span CSR initiatives, electric mobility programs, and leveraging prestigious industry events.

With over 39 years of professional experience and a background as a Chartered Accountant, F R Singhvi is the co – promoter and the Joint Managing Director of Sansera Engineering Ltd. Over the years, he has been actively driving initiatives at the Automotive Components Manufacturers Association (ACMA), where he leads Pillar 3 programs encompassing ACT, Skilling and Mentoring, HR, YBLF and representing ACMA in ASDC Governing Council.

Expressing his enthusiasm for his new role, F R Singhvi said, “I have been part of ASDC and excited to lead ASDC in its endeavours to skill, upskill, and reskill the personnal within the automotive industry. ASDC has grown into a vital institution, significantly contributing to the auto sector through its various skill-based initiatives.”

Vinkesh Gulati, newly appointed Vice President, stated, “ASDC has built a strong foundation over the years. We have achieved significant milestones, with robust industry and ecosystem engagement. Notable accomplishments include our collaboration with GIZ GmbH to launch the E-Bus Up School Capacity Building Program, expansion into areas such as EVs, sustainability, safety, and diagnostics, and the revision of our Qualification Packs/curriculum based on insights from over 300+ industry experts. Additionally, ASDC has actively participated in G20 discussions on the future of work. I look forward to taking this forward in my new capacity.”

Outgoing President Vinod Aggarwal concluded by saying, “I sincerely appreciated the opportunity to serve as President ASDC over the past two years, during which ASDC drove several pathbreaking initiatives. Looking ahead, the Indian Automotive industry will play a key role during India’s transformation in its Amrut Kaal by incorporating sustainable technologies and modern practices. I am confident that based on its rigorous curriculum and outreach, ASDC’s training will play a pivotal role in supporting India’s youthful workforce in the coming years. My best wishes to incoming President F R Singhvi and incoming Vice President Vinkesh Gulati, Arindam Lahiri, CEO and the ASDC team as they continue to drive the council’s mission to develop a highly skilled workforce for the automotive industry.”