Vinod Kumar, group president, Subex, takes pride in the fact that he has not been much of a job-hopper. He spent five years as a marketing executive with Crompton Greaves and subsequently worked with Ashok Leyland Limited. In 1997, he joined Subex.

During his 15-year-long stint with Subex, Kumar has held several positions, including president of the company’s revenue maximisation solutions (now business optimisation solutions) business, and senior vice-president, sales. Now, as group president, Kumar spearheads the customer-facing functions of the company. In addition, he is responsible for product line management, marketing and partner management.

Talking about his long association with the company, Kumar says, “When I joined Subex, it was a relatively small company. I was involved in the development and implementation of the company’s sales strategy. During those initial days, my aspiration was to create a name for the company by establishing it as a products firm outside India. Managing the entire life cycle of a product and ensuring that we establish ourselves as a global network have been some of the biggest challenges that I faced.”

In Kumar’s opinion, the telecom industry’s growth prospects will depend on how well players are able to monetise and leverage emerging technologies like 3G and 4G. Further, the kind of services that will be offered through these technologies will play a significant role in determining the industry’s future. According to him, 3G and 4G will offer faster data speeds. This will, in turn, prompt enterprises to utilise services such as videoconferencing and technologies that support their operational functions. “Cloud computing and small office, home office also have huge potential. Technology is becoming supportive and driving the new lifestyle of people. The distinction between office and home usage is blurring,” he says.

Kumar has a B.Tech. (electrical and electronics) from CET, University of Kerala.

Kumar’s typical workday begins early and revolves around a series of meetings with his team and with clients. He describes his management style as “facilitative”. He elaborates: “To be an able leader, one must have the capability to step in and take corrective measures. I delegate work and have the ability to zoom in and guide my team. I think I have the right balance to lead a team.”

Kumar is a firm believer in the importance of a work-life balance. In order to maximise his time with his family, comprising his wife and two children, he avoids taking business calls from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. He likes to read and occasionally gets in a game of table tennis.