Srikanth Padmanabhan joined Cummins over 30 years ago to build an innovative factory of the future. Over the course of his career, he has worked at the intersection of markets and products, innovation, and quality, while being a champion of diversity and local community engagement. He is a results-oriented leader with strategic clarity and a passion for effective communication, recognition, and motivating tomorrow's leaders.
As executive vice president and president of operations for Cummins, Srikanth is leading the work that will redefine and drive improvements in how Cummins operates through the energy transition, while leading critical areas of our business operations and regions, as well as ensuring the success of our operational priorities.
His career has taken him and his family around the globe, living and working in India, the United States, Mexico and the United Kingdom while holding leadership roles in the heavy duty, midrange and light duty markets, Cummins Emissions Solutions, Cummins Generator Technologies, Cummins Filtration and Cummins Fuels Systems. He led the Engine Business, the core of Cummins’ five business units, most recently as president for over seven years, powering it to over $11 billion in revenue with 1.3 million engines delivered to customers worldwide.
Srikanth holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology in Trichy, India, and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. He is a distinguished alumnus of his undergraduate institution and the recipient of the Professional Achievement Citation in Engineering (PACE) award from Iowa State University’s College of Engineering. He is also a graduate of the Advanced Management Program from Harvard Business School.
He is passionate about service to the industry, community-at-large, and the Asian/Pacific Islander community. He sits on the board of directors for Leggett & Platt, Inc. (NYSE: LEG), American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), and the Community Education Coalition in Columbus, Indiana. He is also a member of the board of advisors for Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus and the Board of Trustees for Columbus’ Interfaith Council. He sponsors two ERGs within Cummins – East Asian Employee Resource Group and the South Asian Employee Resource Group – helping highlight their issues and concerns.
Srikanth grew up in Chennai, India, as the sixth of seven children. His global life experiences have profoundly shaped him as a leader who believe deeply in the benefits of building teams with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
He and his wife Usha live in Columbus, Indiana, and enjoy exploring the world with their daughter, Megna.