Honoured as a World’s Leading Leader 2025 at the Global FutureMakers Summit in London, the CEO of Batra Henlay Cables exemplifies leadership built on innovation, resilience, and sustainable value creation.
Abhinav Batra – The Architect of Leadership Equity
Abhinav Batra, CEO of Batra Henlay Cables, has been distinguished as a World’s Leading Leader 2025 at the Global FutureMakers Summit, an honor that recognizes not merely commercial success, but the holistic construction of Leadership Equity. His selection is a testament to how he has systematically built intangible, yet invaluable, capital across multiple dimensions, positioning his 33-year-old family enterprise as a resilient, future-ready institution. This recognition, therefore, is a direct outcome of his application of a robust leadership framework that prioritizes sustainable value over short-term gain, aligning with the core tenets of the World Centre for Research and Consulting (WCRC) Leadership Equity model.
His leadership equity is built on three foundational pillars beyond financial metrics: Innovation Legitimacy, Governance Integrity, and Ecosystem Influence. While financial performance is evident in capacity expansion and revenue growth, Batra’s deeper legacy is in legitimizing indigenous Indian innovation on the global stage. By developing and certifying a fire survival aluminum cable at BRE Global in the UK—achieving a standard of 950°C for 180 minutes—he didn’t just create a product; he built Technical Credibility that challenged and eventually changed industry reliance on expensive imports. This innovation, now part of the Indian Harmonized Code (IS 17505), shifted the industry’s center of gravity, establishing Batra Henlay Cables as a Knowledge Creator rather than just a manufacturer. This form of equity generates long-term trust and a competitive moat that is difficult to replicate.
Furthermore, Batra has cultivated profound Stakeholder Trust and Cultural Capital, critical components of the WCRC model. Internally, his leadership pipeline development and cross-generational mentorship programs are not HR initiatives but strategic investments in Human Capital Sustainability. The documented absence of a gender pay gap, the “think tank like mentality” of the management board, and the structured succession framework ensure organizational continuity and attract top talent. Externally, his equity extends to Regulatory and Community Capital. By ensuring products like Halogen Free wires were incorporated into CPWD Technical Specifications and by operating a manufacturing plant designed for minimal environmental impact with third-party validated EMS, Batra has built deep trust with government bodies and the community. This trust translates into preferential status for national projects and a resilient social license to operate. His selection as a World’s Leading Leader ultimately validates that in the modern era, the most sustainable form of leadership is equity—built through credibility, trust, and systemic influence, not just profit—and Abhinav Batra has mastered its calculus.
Foundational Strategy and Long-Term Value Creation
Abhinav Batra, steering the 33-year-old family enterprise Batra Henlay Cables, has fundamentally reshaped the organization through decisive strategic moves. His leadership is defined by a constant revisiting of past lessons to refine tactics for an impactful future. One pivotal decision was the establishment of a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Greater Noida in 2020. The objective was to create a first-in-class manufacturing hub in North India, designed from inception with energy efficiency and sustainability at its core. The facility incorporated variable AC drives, LED lighting, next-generation high-speed extrusion lines with PLC and IOT integration, and advanced cooling systems to combat India’s extreme heat. Resource allocation involved relocating 30-40% of working capital from organic resources, supplemented by institutional lending. The measurable outcome was a setup that increased manufacturing capacity by 10x compared to pre-2022 levels, directly supporting exponential turnover growth by addressing a demand-supply imbalance. This future-ready, sustainable, and self-functioning unit became a showcase of modern industrial capability.
Navigating Regional Challenges and Driving Innovation
Operating in Asia’s unique socioeconomic and environmental landscape requires adaptive leadership. Batra Henlay Cables has navigated this by developing products that meet stringent regional demands. A key challenge has been manufacturing for India’s harsh climate, with high temperatures and humidity affecting cable performance and longevity. Batra spearheaded the development of a fire survival cable using aluminum conductor—a material more common and affordable in India than copper—to meet the rigorous BS 7846 standard requiring operation at 750°C for 120 minutes. This posed a significant challenge as aluminum melts at 615°C. Through collaboration with physicists, chemical engineers, and material experts, and with extensive testing by BRE Global in the UK (achieving 950°C for 180 minutes), BHC created a groundbreaking product. This innovation filled a critical gap left by expensive, imported MICC cables, complying with the National Building Code of India 2016 for fire safety systems. The cable’s success led to 100% user market adoption and over 10x growth for BHC, establishing the company as a technology intellectual innovator and the first in India to offer this solution.
Digital Transformation and Operational Excellence
Technology integration under Batra’s leadership has been critical for efficiency and competitiveness. In cable manufacturing, where copper constitutes over 70% of raw material cost, AI and automation have been deployed to control waste and sustain quality. From the initial phase of drawing copper rods into wires, AI systems monitor for roundness, lay-length, and strand breakage, preventing material rejection and controlling variable costing. For sales, BHC developed AI-based data analytic formulations to calculate final product costs in real-time, accounting for volatile factors like copper prices (LME), USD rates, and compound costs. This tool saves significant time and effort, especially for long-timeline construction projects prone to delays, enhancing customer experience and contributing to sales and revenue generation. This digital shift ensures operational efficiency and provides a competitive edge in a fluctuating market.
Inclusive Growth and Leadership Development
Batra’s commitment to workplace equity and leadership cultivation is embedded in the company’s framework. At BHC, there is no gender pay gap, and roles are assigned based on skill, irrespective of gender, caste, or community. The local leadership pipeline begins with a two-day onboarding experience focused on company principles, ethics, and core values. Identified potentials then undergo skill-based training and assessments to boost confidence and create connections. The succession planning framework identifies internal successors for 20% of critical sales and marketing roles, grooming them in corporate governance and ethical practices. Leadership development investment includes workshops on self-cultivation, financial acumen, emotional intelligence, and SWOT analysis. These efforts have resulted in a key talent retention rate above 60%. Furthermore, cross-generational mentorship programs synergize the technological edge of younger employees with the experience of older generations, fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture.
Industry Influence and Sustainable Legacy
Abhinav Batra’s impact extends beyond his organization, shaping industry standards and policies. His government advisory contributions are evidenced by BHC’s role in the Central Vista Avenue project. The company received special approval from CPWD to supply Halogen Free wires, and its specifications were incorporated into CPWD Technical Specifications, now acting as legislation for projects across India. As an industry body, BHC pioneered the introduction of Fire Survival Cables based on BS 7846 and BS 7629 to the Indian construction industry in 2013. This product, essential for mass transit systems, airports, and hospitals, was later added to the Indian harmonized code as IS 17505 in 2021 due to high demand and performance. This thought leadership and innovation adoption by peers have been recognized globally, including BHC’s enlistment as a preferred cable manufacturer and supplier for the Wyndham Group of Hotels across Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Batra’s personal recognition includes being named one of the top 40 trailblazer leaders by ET Edge in 2025. Tangible indicators of his sustainable leadership legacy include high employee engagement scores (with over 90% participation in feedback processes), a forward-looking community development focus on bio-insulation and recyclable cables, and the industry-wide adoption of its IS 17048 certified HFFR Wires and Cables, phasing out environmentally harmful PVC products.
The Last Words
In Abhinav Batra, we see a leader who doesn’t just navigate the future—he builds it. From the factories of Noida to the halls of the House of Lords, his journey is a powerful reminder that true leadership is about creating value that endures, includes, and inspires.
Article framed using the WCRC Leadership Equity Evaluation Model, focusing on Strategic Vision, Regional Navigation, Digital Impact, Inclusive Growth, and Global Influence.
