Dr. M. Prabhakar Rao, is the chairman of the NSL group and the Managing director of NSL seeds (Nuziveedu Seeds Ltd.), the largest seed company in India. Mr. Mandava Prabhakar Rao is the scion of a reputed agricultural family, hailing from Guntur District in Andhra Pradesh. He has an equally commendable educational background, being an alumnus of Banaras Hindu University, where he ranked second in the University in B.Sc. (Agriculture) and first in M.Sc. (Agriculture). He is also a recipient of the Gold Medal and Merit Scholarship during post-graduation. After completion of his education in 1982, following in his father’s footsteps, he took up the family managed seed company- Nuziveedu Seeds and went on to nurture the company into a leader in the Indian seed industry.
Nuziveedu Seeds is a pioneer company in the marketing of hybrid cotton seeds in the country. The cotton hybrids ‘Bunny’ and ‘Mallika’, developed under Mr. M. P. Rao’s guidance by Nuziveedu Seeds Ltd. are the most popular hybrids. The high yield, pest and disease tolerance, and quality fibre of these seeds has resulted in their rapid and widespread adoption by the farmers.
It goes to Mr. M. P. Rao’s credit that Nuziveedu Seeds is the Winner of DSIR – National Award 2002 instituted by the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India to honour the R&D achievements of an organization. Furthermore, the prestigious annual Biotech Industry survey – ‘Bio Spectrum – ABLE Biotech Industry Survey – 2008, 2010, 2011’ has adjudged Nuziveedu Seeds as the “No. 1 Bio-Agri Company of India for three-years- 2008, 2010, 2011”.
Being an active member in various Industry Associations like All India Seed Growers Merchants & Nurserymen Association, he has also participated in several international and national conferences on seeds in the last 25 years. He has also presented several papers both in national and international forums.
Apart from Seed industry, he has also contributed for substantial industrialization by making combined investments of about Rs. 4,000 Crores in Renewable Power, Textiles, Integrated Sugar Factories and IT Infrastructure in the form of IT Parks, IT SEZs and more.
Mr. M. P. Rao has always been at the forefront in terms of Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives and has established a charitable trust, Mandava Foundation, which plays a key role in the development of Rural India by contributing in the sectors of education, health care, agricultural productivity initiatives, etc.
Mrs. Asha Priya is a Post Graduate in Home Science. She stood University First in M.Sc. (Child Development) in the year 1984. She also holds Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Kuchipudi Dance. She has onto her credit an enviable experience of over 20 years in seed production and marketing. In addition to her interest in supporting the rural poor in the fields of Education, Health and Rural Development, she has a keen eye on Heritage Preservation in the country. She has provided timely support many a time, to ancient forms of dances, arts, spiritual centres etc. Being very sympathetic towards economically backward young girls in rural areas, she actively supports development of vocational training centres to help the young girls.
Dr. Sateesh Kumar is a post graduate in Agricultural Sciences (Genetics and Plant Breeding) and Ph.D. in Agri Genetics and Biotechnology. Dr. Sateesh Kumar has over 38 years of experience, 10 years of overseas experience in crop improvement at University of Illinois and University of Alberta (Canada) and since past 28 years he has been associated with Nuziveedu Seeds Limited (NSL). At NSL, he overseas and coordinates research and development of NSL and its subsidiary seed companies. He is also involved in development of business strategy for the NSL Seeds Group.
Dr. Kumar is a recipient of ICRISAT Doctoral Research Fellowship and Fulbright Research Fellowship at the University of Illinois, USA. He is a recipient of Best Entrepreneur from AP Seedsmen Association and recognized by National Seed Association of India for contributions to Indian Seed Industry. He has been a recipient of Doreen Margaret Mashler Award for outstanding contributions to Sorghum improvement.
He has been a member the Governing Council of National Seed Association of India, Executive Committee of AP Seedsmen Association, Board of AP State Seed Certification Agency, Taskforce on Guidelines for Cotton PPV&FRA Registration, Advisory Board of HOPE Project & Bill and Melinda Gates foundation and a member on the Executive Council of University of Hyderabad.
Dr. Pamidi Kotaiah, is an Independent Director of our Company. He has an excellent academic background: A Post Graduate in Economics with first rank and a gold medal; Doctor of Letters (D. Litt) from Andhra University; he is also a qualified associate of the Indian Institute of Bankers. He was conferred with the honorary fellowship by the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance (IIBF). Dr. Kotaiah has vast and diversified experience spanning over five decades in banking, finance, regulatory architecture, management, economic development and corporate governance. He has also over three decades of Board Level experience.
He joined Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 1961 and moved on to National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) in 1982. He served as Managing Director (1990-1992) and Executive Chairman (1992-1998) of NABARD. His experience also includes short term consultancy work (1980-2010) with multilateral (Global) financial institutions: World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP). This led to work experience in varied fields in about 20 countries (Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Laos, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam, Yemen; Africa: Ethiopia, Ghana, Gambia and Tanzania). Further he spent time for report writing in Rome (FAO and IFAD) and Washington DC (World Bank) and had interactions with respective institutions.
In addition to NABARD, Dr. Kotaiah has board level exposure in both public sector and private sector institutions. Some such major exposures include Government Of India (GOI) constituted Bank Chairman and Executive Director Selection Board (2000-2004), Director, Bank Of India (2005-2007), Chairman, Bankers-Institute of Rural Development (1990-1998), Member of Board of Governors, Centre for Good Governance, Government of Andhra Pradesh (2000-2006), Director, Small Industries Development Bank Of India (1992-1996), Director, Agricultural Finance Corporation (1992-1998), Director, National Cooperative Development Corporation (1996-1998), Director, Global Trust Bank (2001-2004), Chairman, International Committee On Rural Industrializations of World Assembly of Small and Medium Enterprises (1993-1998), Vice Chairman and Member of Executive Committee, Asia and Pacific Regional Agriculture Credit Association (1990-1998).
Mr. M. Venkatram Chowdhary has completed his Business Management Certification in Finance from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), US. He holds a degree in Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from Amity University, Noida.
He worked for a period with NSL Textiles during 2008-10, before going to the United States to pursue his Business Management Certification. He served on the Board of NSL Textiles Limited as Whole-time Director during the period between 5.9.2011 and 15.3.2016.
Mr. Richard Blaise Saldhana, a graduate Mechanical Engineer, served Hindustan Lever & Unilever plc with distinction for 30 years. He spent almost 10 years in Latin America and rose to be Chairman and CEO of Unilever Peru and a Member of the Unilever Latin America Board.
He returned to India as Managing Director of Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd, a 1.5 BN $ enterprise. Later spent 5 years as Executive Director and Member of the Board of The Times of India Group to help build organizational capability, culture and competitiveness. He then was 6 years with The Blackstone Group in India as Executive Director responsible for Operational Excellence in a range of Portfolio Companies.
He is currently Executive Chairman of Trans Maldivian Airways and Gokaldas Exports, and is even on the Boards of few of the Blackstone Portfolio Cos. He also is on the Board of ENIL (a Times of India Group Co) and member of the Court of Governors of the Administrative Staff College of India. He is actively involved with NGOs and CSR Initiatives.
Mr. M.B.N Rao, former Chairman and Managing Director of Canara Bank and Chairman of Indian Banks Association. He has graduated with a B. Sc degree in Agriculture. He is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, London and Fellow of the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance. He is a member of the Singapore Institute of Management and has done his Diplomas in Computer Studies from University of Cambridge and National Computing Centre, London.
Mr. M.B.N Rao has an extensive in-depth knowledge and over 38 years of varied experience in Banking and Finance, Economics, Foreign Exchange, Money and Capital Markets, Risk Management, Treasury and Funds Management, Asset and Liability Management, Advisory Services, Accountancy, Information Technology and Technology in Banking, Credit Management, Project Finance, Industrial and Infrastructure Finance, International Trade Finance, Priority Sector Lending, Social Banking, Entrepreneurial Development, Lending to Agriculture and SMEs, Financial Inclusion, Retail Banking, NPA Management, Human Resource Management, Marketing, Internal Control, Inspection & Audit, Vigilance, Taxation and Administration.
Mr. M.B.N Rao during his tenure has received a number of awards from Indian Bank and Canara Bank including a number of commendations. He held Chairmanship of various banking organizations and Directorship in reputed companies. He was a Director of General Insurance Corporation of India and Founder Chairman of Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of India Insurance Company. He is the Chairman of Cholamandalam Investment & Finance Company Limited and is also on the Board of various reputed companies including B.E.M.L. Ltd. and E.I.D. Parry (India) Ltd. Mr. M.B.N Rao served as a Member of Committees constituted by the Ministry of Finance, RBI, SEBI and National Institute of Bank Management.
Mr. Kapil Mehan is an accomplished Agri Business leader with deep managerial domain and strategic expertise in the areas of Agri/Agri Tech sectors, Green Technology (Green Ammonia), business strategy, management, business performance improvement, setting up new business and strategic / financial investments in the manufacturing/Agribusiness sectors. He has keen insights into business and policy/ Regulatory dynamics of agri-business industries. With his vast exposure across fertilizer, chemicals, consumer products and agriculture industry globally, he is providing advisory and expertise across varied consulting assignments with industry (covering Indian and African markets) and marquee consulting partners such as E & Y, BCG etc… A graduate in Veterinary sciences and animal health, he is also an IIM Ahmedabad (PGDM-SPA) and Harvard Business School (AMP) alumnus.
Prior to current advisory role, he has served in the capacity of Group Chief Executive Officer- Agribusiness of Adventz group, Managing Director of Coromandel International Ltd. (employee base 7000+, ~ revenue $ 2 bn+) in the Fertilizer industry and as Executive Director in Tata Chemicals Ltd. He has extensive experience of Company board working and insights in latest Corporate Governance practices.
He is an active participant in key industry bodies at National and International levels including Fertilizer Association of India (FAI), International Fertilizer Association (IFA),Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Chairman of Agricultural committee of Northern Regional Council of CII etc. He has been past chairman of Alkali Manufacturers Association of India and Salt Producers Association, Co – Chairman of FAI, Chairman of Marketing committee of FAI. He has served on board of IFA and its Chair for Agriculture Committee. He has led many industry level advocacy efforts for a healthy enabling policy framework for growth, sustainability, ease of doing business and meeting requirements of multi stakeholders in fertilizer sector.Key skills accumulated and emphasized by him in his various roles include leadership with purpose, people management, process orientation, commercial acumen, strategic thinking, execution, advocacy, and communication (internal and external).
Mr. K. Venkat Rao has been an integral part of Nuziveedu Seeds since August 1985, bringing with him a wealth of experience and visionary leadership. Renowned for his innovative marketing strategies, he has spent over three decades shaping the company’s brand identity and driving growth. With a focus on Brand Building, he has successfully launched blockbuster products such as Bunny and Mallika, contributing to Nuziveedu Seeds’ emergence as the leading seed company in India boosting a turnover of over INR 1000 crore.
Beyond his marketing acumen, Mr. K. Venkat Rao possesses extensive knowledge in Supply Chain management and R&D. He has been instrumental in establishing ginning units across Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh under M/s Nuziveedu Cotton Corporation further expanding the company’s footprint in the agricultural sector. Under his astute guidance, Nuziveedu Seeds has forged strategic partnerships with prominent Agri business houses nationwide leveraging their retail networks to enhance brand visibility and market penetration. His initiatives have led to a significant increase in market share with Nuziveedu Seeds achieving a milestone of over 1 crore cotton seed packets sold in 2011.
His multifaceted expertise and unwavering dedication have been instrumental in propelling Nuziveedu Seeds to the forefront of the agricultural industry. His strategic vision coupled with his hands-on approach to leadership continues to drive innovation, growth and success for the company ensuring its continued prominence in the years to come.
