G
M Rao is the Founder Chairman of GMR Group. An engineer turned industrialist,
he began his business in 1978, with a single Jute Mill located in his hometown
Rajam, Vizianagaram district. Within a few years, he diversified his business
interests into Sugar, Ferroalloys, Banking, IT and most significantly,
Infrastructure. Today, GMR Group is a leading infrastructure development
company with business verticals in Energy, Roads and Airports.
Inspired by a vision to build
entrepreneurial organisations that make a difference to society through
creation of value, G M Rao established GMR Varalakshmi Foundation – the
Corporate Social Responsibility arm of GMR Group. The Foundation spearheads GMR
Group’s initiatives in Education, Empowerment, Health and Hygiene. With the
firm belief that education is a key enabler for progress, G M Rao established a
degree college and three primary schools near Vizianagaram. The success of these
institutions paved the way for GMR Institute of Technology in 1997. Under G M
Rao’s leadership, GMRIT has grown in reputation and merit, today, regarded
among the best engineering institutes in India.