I Like The Classic Challenge Of Finding Something That Has Potential And Making It Bloom

Never One to Shy Away From a Challenge, Bharat Fritz Werner Managing Director and Ceo Ravi Raghavan Hopes to See the Company Continue to Contribute to India’s Development While Pursuing Its Own Growth.

- Jennifer Sijnja

Since its establishment in 1961, Bharat Fritz Werner (BFW) has been known for its commitment to progress. A manufacturing company that produces machine tools used in the manufacturing industry, BFW has grown alongside the burgeoning Indian economy, and is nicely positioned to contribute to the country’s continued economic and social development.

Managing Director and CEO Ravi Raghavan joined BFW in September 2013, equipped with a mentality that “you don’t challenge yourself if you don’t go through the process of unlearning and relearning something in life”. Having gained experience across a wide swathe of industries, including consumer durables, capital goods and electrics, Ravi initially found BFW an attractive option because “it was an iconic brand within its space”. He had previously enjoyed working for companies whose brands were “iconic, and respected within their own industries”, and took the opportunity to continue doing so.

“As I came to learn more about the company,” Ravi tells The CEO Magazine, “what intrigued me was how a strong brand had such inherent strength, but its potential had not been exploited.” He quickly developed a desire to turn BFW into a much bigger company. “I don’t believe in maintaining a company; if something is doing well, there’s no challenge in trying to maintain that success. I like the challenge of finding something that has potential and making it bloom.”

When it comes to making sure BFW retains its competitive market position, Ravi has a secret weapon. “When I was young,” he says, “my boss made me read