Rajat Varma, head, strategic alliances, AGC Networks Limited, is responsible for building partnerships with original equipment manufacturers and technology vendors in segments such as unified communications, network infrastructure, data centre and virtualisation, and enterprise applications. In addition, he leads AGC’s banking, financial services and insurance vertical.
According to Varma, the industry is currently witnessing a slowdown and is faced with an uncertain regulatory environment. “In such a scenario, clients are going slow with projects, thereby impacting industry performance. To address this challenge, AGC has shifted its focus from selling hardware to providing services and applications to operators who are looking to maximise their operational efficiencies,” says Varma. The company is also focusing on expansion through organic and inorganic growth.
Varma has in the past worked with organisations such as Global Tele-Systems Limited, 3D Networks Private Limited, Wipro Networks Private Limited, and Aegis Tech Limited. Of these, he says his most challenging assignment was the data centre roll-out project he headed for Countrywide Financial Corporation while he was at 3D Networks. “Countrywide Financial Corporation, a leading US-based home loan provider, had a target to set up six facilities, including offices and data centres, in India within a short period of time. Working on that project for a period of 18 months, I had my hands full as I was involved in setting up the entire infrastructure for the company, right from deciding on the structural cabling to arranging the logistics and putting in place various alliances.”
Having been closely involved in that start-up venture, Varma hopes to become an entrepreneur himself one day. He feels he has the knowledge and the expertise to build a company from scratch, acquire customers and grow the business into a profitable entity.
As a manager, Varma says he has a hands-on approach to work. He trusts his team implicitly and empowers them to take decisions. He attributes his success to his ability to identify the key strengths of individuals and allows them to make full use of their talent and skills.
Varma spends time away from work with his children and wife. Weekends are spent playing carom and cricket with his son. To stay fit and keep his cholesterol in check, he has started going for walks and playing badminton.