Diversity and international exposure have been a part of daily life for Sandeep Sethi ever since he entered the corporate world; a journey which he says has been most humbling and enriching. He explains, “I consider myself fortunate for having had the opportunity to live and work in different parts of the world. Coping with diversity and experiencing different cultures is not only interesting but also gives one a different perspective on things.”
Sethi brings to the table close to 20 years of experience in the global energy management industry, spanning the US, Singapore, China and India. He began his career in the US as an energy engineer with Johnson Controls, a Fortune 60 company. He spent 15 years with the company in various roles, the last as vice president, Asia Pacific, for the company’s energy management and aftermarket business. Thereafter, he joined Carrier, a part of the United Technologies Corporation, as president of its Asian operations, heading its commercial refrigeration business based in China. His stint with ACME Tele Power began in June 2010.
According to him, his most memorable assignment goes back to his time in China. “China gave me the opportunity to witness its historic growth first-hand. It was fascinating to see how a large country like China is run like a mature and professional enterprise, with every city mayor assigned GDP growth targets. China Inc. is institutionalising a strong culture of accountability, which has been an effective way to drive double-digit growth even in Tier 3 cities,” he explains.
Of course, he is looking forward to tackling the challenges that come his way at ACME too. “While it has been only eight months since I joined ACME, it has the promise of being a very enriching experience. The telecom industry in India is going through a massive change and steering ACME to play an active role in this change is a very exciting opportunity,” he says.
As CEO, Sethi is primarily responsible for the company’s global business. This includes overseeing its R&D facilities and local sales and services offices across 17 countries.
Although confronted with a full plate of responsibilities, he tries his best to find time to indulge his two passions: trekking and reading non-fiction. He has just finished reading Three Cups of Tea, which he enjoyed immensely. He does wish, however, that he had more time to participate in social causes. “There are a lot of opportunities around us to help the under-privileged,” he says. “Even while I was growing up, I was driven by the desire to make a difference. This has been my guiding vision over the years.”