Today, Srivastava is head of customer development at Viom Networks and has 24 years of experience behind him. His areas of expertise include sales, marketing, business development and managing the profit and loss function. Prior to Viom Networks, Srivastava was associated with companies like Aviat Networks, Acme Telepower, Fibcom India, Mhd LLC, Beta Laser Mike and Birla 3M Limited. At Viom, he manages the company’s overall sales activities, including account management. He is responsible for developing strategies for customers to ensure they achieve cost effectiveness.
The last year, according to Srivastava, has been one of the most challenging for the industry. The cancellation of 2G licences, in particular, was a major setback for many players. However, companies like Viom viewed this as an opportunity to take a fresh look at their growth strategies. “Viom Networks utilised this time to revisit its cost bases, explore solutions for cost optimisation and focus on technological innovation,” he says. India, he believes, is at the cusp of mobile data growth, with the youth population and availability of affordable handsets, tablet PCs and relevant content being the key drivers of this growth.
Commenting on the trends in the infrastructure industry, Srivastava points out that with the changing needs of the sector, the expectations from the tower industry have shifted from voice to data. “The focus will be on providing solutions for tower sharing and data-driven infrastructure solutions such as distributed antennae solutions, in-building solutions and low-cost customised solutions,” he says. “Offering multiple applications will drive tower companies towards optimal asset utilisation. This will enable rapid growth in the digital infrastructure space.”
Srivastava believes in empowering his team and ensuring they take ownership. “I encourage my team members to work in a cohesive fashion to ensure maximum participation across all levels and functions,” he says. Srivastava unwinds by listening to Indian music, especially ghazals and semi-classical music. He enjoys dining out and watching movies on weekends with his wife and two girls. He is also an enthusiastic traveler.