Hamir Bakshi, regional business head (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Odisha), Aircel, brings to the table more than 24 years of professional experience, having worked with organisations such as Xerox and Hutchison Essar (now Vodafone India). At present, he is responsible for Aircel’s operations in the Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Odisha markets.

According to Bakshi, although Aircel is a relatively new entrant in the telecom market, it has managed to become the preferred brand among the youth. Talking about the company’s business strategy, he says, “Aircel has made an impact in the highly competitive Indian telecom market with its focus on the youth and data services. We are working towards strengthening our position as the preferred brand for customers accessing the internet on their mobiles, particularly the youth. This segment represents 50 per cent of India’s population and comprises 80 per cent of internet users.”

Data is going to be the key growth driver, not only for Aircel but for the telecom industry as a whole, he says. The growing adoption of smartphones and tablets will contribute to the increase in data usage.

For Bakshi, success has come as a result of his long and stable stints with leading organisations. He spent 11 years at Xerox, eight at Hutchison Essar and has been associated with Aircel for the past five years. While he has enjoyed all these assignments, he counts his current role at Aircel as the most challenging yet. “Aircel gave me the opportunity to launch a new business and presented me with the challenge of making the business profitable in the existing market. It’s sheer joy to create a brand, see it grow and establish its own identity,” he says.

Bakshi believes that to get the best returns from resources such as technology, investments and brand, people play an integral role in delivering the desired results. Therefore, as a leader and a manager, he makes an effort to create an enabling environment for his team to deliver to their full potential. He likes to declutter and simplify things, so that the team has a clear vision of the results expected from them. He also keeps an eye on technology and related industry trends so as to provide informed guidance.

An army man’s son, Bakshi grew up in various parts of the country. Travelling, therefore, comes naturally to him. He is fond of wildlife and enjoys going on safaris along with his wife and two children.