Mahindra Susten Appoints Avinash Rao As MD & CEO

Mahindra Susten, the cleantech arms of the Mahinda Group announced the appointment of Avinash Rao as the MD and CEO on 25 August 2025. Mr Rao will assume his responsibilities on 24 September 2025.

Mr Rao comes with almost three decades of experience in the energy sector, from conventional energy to power transmission to renewable energy. He started he professional journey with various subsidiaries of CLP India, the Indian arm of CLP Group Holding, Hong Kong. At CLP India, he worked on conventional as well as renewable energy segments such as wind and solar energy. He began his professional experience with coal powered projects, and later moved to renewable energy. He has been associated with Edelwiess Alternatives where he was responsible for all the infra funds managed by Edelweiss Alternatives. Since September 2023 he was CEO of Sustainable Energy Infra Trust, a private fund infrastructure investment trust fund sponsored by Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board and Mahindra Susten.

Mr Rao’s appointment was also welcomed by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board.

Mahindra Susten in a press release said that under Mr Rao, the company will be expanding its portfolio across the renewable energy value chain.

Speaking on Mr Rao’s appointment, Dr. Anish Shah, Group CEO & MD, Mahindra Group, said, “At Mahindra, sustainability and climate action are not just priorities—they are core to our purpose. We are setting benchmarks in ESG and sustainability, and Susten plays a pivotal role in accelerating this vision. With 15 years of legacy in renewable energy and having a diversified portfolio, Susten is well-positioned to lead India’s renewable energy transition. Avinash’s deep expertise across the entire energy value chain—from platform creation to investment and operational excellence—will enable us to create long-term value for our stakeholders while accelerating the transition to a cleaner energy future.”