Pawan Goenka

Pawan Goenka is a distinguished industry veteran with a career spanning several decades across diverse sectors, from automotive to space. An alumnus of IIT Kanpur, Cornell University and Harvard Business School, Goenka began his professional journey at General Motors’ R&D centre before returning to India in the early 1990s to lead transformative innovation at Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M).

At M&M, he expanded the R&D infrastructure from a modest five-acre, 150-person setup to a world-class facility covering 200 acres with over 3,000 employees. His leadership resulted in benchmark products like the Scorpio SUV, earning him the moniker ‘Scorpio Man’, and positioning Mahindra as a respected global automotive brand. He also served as chairman of SsangYong Motor Company until its divestment in 2022.

Currently, as chairperson of IN-SPACe, Goenka is driving India’s space sector forward, fostering private sector participation and crafting policies that promote collaboration between startups, industries and ISRO. He played a pivotal role in shaping the Indian Space Policy 2023, advancing indigenous satellite technology and research capabilities. His vision emphasises building a self-reliant, innovation-driven space ecosystem to elevate India as a global leader.

A recipient of Padma Shri, Goenka has received numerous other prestigious awards recognising his outstanding contributions to the mobility industry.