Born on August 02, 1949, Cdr Arvind K. Poothia, former Chairman and Managing Director, Hooghly Dock and Port Engineers Ltd, Kolkata, is a product of National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. He was commissioned in the Electrical Branch of the Indian Navy in 1972.

A degree holder in the Electrical and Telecommunication Engineering from the Indian Navy, Cdr Poothia holds the LLM Degree in Commercial Laws from the University of Bombay, Mumbai; MSc in Defence Studies from the University of Madras, Chennai and the Post-graduate Diploma in Systems Management from the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management, Mumbai.

In the Indian Navy, he handled many challenging assignments including Squadron Electrical Officer of Submersible Squadron, Training Squadron, Naval Projects and various other on-board and ashore appointments. He was also responsible for overseeing the warship building as Weapons Expert at Mazgaon Docks, Mumbai, for over four years.

He joined the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSEL), Kolkata -- a Government of India Undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, designing and manufacturing ships, diesel engines and other engineering items -- in 1987. With a rich experience in Operational Audit, Shipbuilding, Quality Assurance and Corporate Marketing, he rose to the rank of General Manager in 1996. A Certified Lead Auditor, Cdr Poothia was responsible for the certification of four units/divisions of the company to the ISO 9000 Quality Management Systems. As the General Manager and CEO of the Diesel Engine Plant, Ranchi -- a Division of the GRSEL, the unit was turned into a profit-making entity within a short span of two years.

He was later appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Hooghly Dock and Port Engineers Ltd, Kolkata -- a Government of India Undertaking -- and served the company till middle of the year 2000. The company showed the best-ever results in its history during 1999-2000 under his leadership.

A Fellow of the Institution of Engineers (India), the Indian Council of Arbitration and an Associate Member of the Insurance Institute of India, Mumbai, he is a recipient of the Vikas Bharati Award 1997 for promoting and maintaining quality and standards of products and services; the National Industrial Excellence Award 1997 for excellence in the industry, and Commendation from the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy, for performing functions beyond the call of duty.

Cdr Poothia, a Rotarian, has widely travelled in India and abroad and has special international exposure.