Boeing has appointed Pratyush “Prat” Kumar as President of Boeing India, effective December 14. He joins Boeing with significant business leadership experience and insight into the Indian market, having served in senior executive positions at GE Transportation since 2003. Kumar succeeds Dinesh Keskar, who earlier this year returned to Boeing Commercial Airplanes in a senior sales leadership role.

As the company’s senior in-country leader, Kumar is responsible for leading the development and implementation of the Boeing India strategy. He will coordinate business activities, align priorities, expand the Boeing presence and develop, maintain and enhance local relationships and in-country partnerships with India’s business and government stakeholders.

“Prat has a distinguished business career and brings considerable experience and success in the Indian market to Boeing,” said Shep Hill, President of Boeing International and Senior Vice President of Business Development and Strategy. “Prat will focus on growing our business and build on Dinesh Keskar’s outstanding accomplishments as president of Boeing India.”

Kumar was Delhi-based President and CEO, GE Transportation for South Asia. Previously, he led GE Infrastructure businesses in India, which included aviation, transportation, energy, oil and gas, and water business lines. Before joining GE in 2003, Kumar founded a biotech start-up in Boston. He began his career as a McKinsey and Company management consultant in its Atlanta and Delhi offices.

He is co-chair of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s Infrastructure Committee. He is also chair of American Chamber of Commerce India’s Infrastructure and Energy Committee and a member of the Energy & Resources Institute advisory board.

Kumar earned a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge) doctorate in materials manufacturing in 1994 and B.Tech in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.