B. Hariharan is the Group Director - Finance of the Avantha Group. An astute finance professional with over twenty-five years of experience, Hariharan joined the Group in 1985. Since then, he has played a pivotal role in the Group's transformation. A key member of the core team spearheading Group company BILT's turnaround strategy in the mid-1990s, he has held various senior executive positions, including Group Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of BILT. He successfully led BILT's foray into the international capital markets, notably the GDR and FCCB issues - a first in the Indian paper industry.

He has been instrumental in the Group's strategic mergers and acquisitions (M&As) roadmap. The Group's significant M&As include Crompton Greaves' acquisition of Pauwels (Belgium), Ganz (Hungary) and Microsol (Ireland); BILT's acquisition of Sabah Forests Industries (SFI) of Malaysia; and The Global Green Company's acquisition of Intergarden (Belgium).

He is a member of the Avantha Management Board, which formulates strategy at the Group level.

A qualified chartered accountant, cost accountant and company secretary, Hariharan started his career in 1983 as an accounts trainee with Sundaram Clayton Limited. He is an active member of various forums such as The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, The Institute of Company Secretaries of India and The Institute of Cost and Work Accountants of India.

His interests include Carnatic music, golf and cricket.