Ajay Gupta is Executive Director, Technical for JNV Ventures Group, and a Graduate Mechanical Engineer from University of Poona. He is an automotive components and systems development professional with experience of over 25 years in the R&D function with Hero Moto Corp., a leading two-wheeler manufacturer in India. At Hero Moto Corp., Ajay worked extensively in Product Design and Development, CKD indigenization, New Model development, Cost Improvement Programs and Project Management. During this stint with Hero Moto Corp., he acquired domain knowledge of both Indian and overseas auto parts sources, their technologies and manufacturing processes, quality parameters alongside experience in homologation, testing and CMVR regulatory compliance management. One of Ajay’s major contributions was the development of a system for evaporative emission compliance for two-wheelers, for which he holds a patent in his name. Ajay now handles JNV Ventures’ initiatives for new technology acquisition and for enhancing engineering and development capabilities. He also heads Mega Hefa Emission Technologies Pvt. Ltd which operates in the designing and manufacturing of carbon canisters for automotive industry and solenoid valves for the automotive as well as the white goods sector in India.

Sameer Phatak has first degree in commerce, he qualified as a CA from The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, as well as a company secretary from The Institute of Company Secretaries of India. Sameer has worked in various capacities in a 28-year career which includes being an independent tax consultant for a power-producing company, at IVP as CFO and Lord India as Head, Finance and Accounts. In his career he has wide ranging knowledge of the corporate finance function and has managed Indian tax compliances and submissions covering corporate tax, GST and withholding taxes including tax returns, internal reporting and tax accounting. Sameer has also established appropriate business practices, enhanced controls for credit risks, and built staff/supplier morale at a time of financial distress. He is an achievement-oriented professional with excellent people management and analytical skills.