Parag Kulkarni, SVP


Parag Kulkarni 300

Parag Kulkarni was named senior vice president-international and president of A. O. Smith India Water Products Private Limited, in September 2022, with profit & loss responsibility for the Company’s operations in India, Vietnam, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

As managing director of A. O. Smith India Water Products Private Limited since April 2015, Parag led the company to market-leading positions in India’s water heating and water purifying categories. Under his leadership, A. O. Smith India has been recognized as the country’s Most Trusted Brand for water heaters each year since 2019 and received certification as a Great Place to Work twice. In addition, the India team has been recognized internally for product innovation, environmental initiatives and workplace safety.

Parag came to A. O. Smith after 22 years with Wipro Limited, a leading technology services and consulting company, growing from a territory sales lead to senior vice president & business head for Wipro’s commercial lighting and consumer care group. He began his career as a senior sales engineer with Atlas Copco India, a manufacturer of compressors, vacuum solutions, generators, pumps, power tools and assembly systems.

Parag was named one of the 50 Most Impactful Leaders in Global Water Management in 2017, among India’s Best Leaders in Crisis in 2021 for managing the company through the global pandemic, and one of the country’s Most Trusted CEOs in 2017, following the successful expansion of the water purification business. He earned his BE in mechanical engineering from the Government Engineering College in Jabalpur and an MDBA in business management from Pune’s Institute of Management Development. He also completed McGill University’s Executive Leadership Experience.