Akash Passey’s new role in business expansion

With 50 per cent of the Volvo Buses’ business planned to come from Asia by 2015, the company has just announced that Mr. Akash Passey will take on a new assignment as Senior Vice President – Business Region International, along with becoming the Chairman of the Board of Volvo Buses in India. He will also be a member of the Volvo Bus Executive Committee and will report to Mr. Per Carlsson, President, Volvo Bus Corporation.

In his new role, Mr. Akash will now focus more on the strategic aspects of the business in the country. This would imply greater interactions with external bodies and stakeholders in the bus industry. He will have specific responsibility to fulfil the company’s ambition to have Asia account for 50 per cent of the company’s revenues by 2015. Within this plan, the two specific engines of growth are India and China, where India will target revenues of $1 billion.

Mr. Akash joined Volvo in 1997 and has been part of the company’s journey in India ever since. He spearheaded the business in various capacities and has been behind the growth of the organisation from its nascent stage in 2001 to becoming a leader in its segment. The company has completed 10 years in India and is today the No.1 brand in the bus industry.

While Mr. Akash Passey will continue to represent the local organisation externally as the Chairman of the Board of Volvo Buses in India, Mr. Manish Sahi, currently the Chief Operating Officer, will be the Operational Head for the company. The latter brings with him rich experience across diverse business functions and a strong customer focus, and has been associated with Volvo Buses since its early days in India.