IAQ Quality Sustainability Award

Sunil Sinha

In a professional career spanning over three decades, Sunil has held a variety of leadership positions in the areas of business, and the business of excellence in the Tata Group (a business house with revenues of over $100 Bn). His leadership style is rooted in Tata’s uncompromising approach to ethics and excellence.

Currently, Sunil is the Resident Director of Tata Sons for Middle East and North Africa (MENA) – a role which has him travel extensively across the region, establishing and nurturing a robust collaborative network in a multi-cultural environment. Through this, he has developed a deep understanding of MENA’s regional culture, geopolitics and business opportunities. His relationships with key members across multiple stakeholders in various countries have proven to be an asset in expanding complex Tata businesses in different industry sectors. In his tenure, ten new Tata companies/ businesses have established their presence in MENA. In addition, Sunil has led Tata Group strategy for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Turkey, Iran and Egypt.

Prior to this role, Sunil served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Tata Business Excellence Group (TBExG) – the organization responsible for group-wide implementation of the business excellence, innovation, sustainability, safety and corporate governance programmes. One of his most significant achievements in this role was to spearhead globally, for over 100 Tata companies, the implementation of the Tata Business Excellence Model (TBEM) – a transformational and holistic improvement programme fashioned on USA’s Malcolm Baldrige Performance Excellence Programme.

His global contribution and thought leadership in business excellence is also recognized by the Malcolm Baldrige Foundation which led to his appointment to their board in 2015. In 2009, Business Week recognized him as one of the ‘25 Masters of Innovation’ in the world. He has recently been elected as an academician in the prestigious and exclusive International Academy for Quality. Sunil has also delivered keynote addresses on the subjects of business excellence and innovation at the Harvard Business School, the University of Chicago – Booth School of Business, ASQ’s Global Conference in USA and in several other international organizations in Sweden, UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Sunil has served on various Tata company boards and advisory bodies such as the International Council of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Advisory Board of CII Institute of Quality and ASQ’s Global Advisory Council in USA. He has also regularly interacted with think tanks and policy makers of various countries.