Veera Akula

About Veera Akula

Accomplished strategic business and engineering leader with 23+ years of experience across Aerospace, Automotive, and Defense sectors, leading country‑level governance, operational excellence, and large‑scale transformation. Proven track record in scaling India engineering organizations, building high‑performing multi‑disciplinary teams, and delivering high‑value product and technology solutions aligned with global strategies.​Experienced in establishing and running governance frameworks that meet AS9100D, ISO9001, ISO27001, and ISO45001 requirements, with a strong focus on risk management, business continuity, and regulatory compliance. Adept at connecting engineering KPIs to financial outcomes, driving Lean and digital initiatives that deliver high value engineering efficiency.Leadership style blends decisiveness with a strong people‑first orientation, shaped by ENTJ personality and CliftonStrengths themes (Relator, Strategic, Learner, Responsibility, Arranger). Known for transparent communication, stakeholder‑centric engagement, and culture‑building that consistently achieves top‑quartile Gallup engagement scores across direct and roll‑up teams.​Extensive global collaboration experience with teams and stakeholders across the US, UK, Europe, China, and India, including OEMs, supplier ecosystems, and cross‑functional corporate teams. Passionate about developing future leaders, building technical authorities through structured delegation frameworks, and positioning India as a strategic engineering and product hub within global enterprises.​Key focus areas include:​- Business operations leadership, country office governance, and organizational transformation​- Project, program, and portfolio management with enterprise risk and compliance management​- Engineering governance, technical delegation frameworks, and airworthiness‑aligned approvals​- Lean operating systems, performance management, and analytics‑driven decision‑making​- Digital transformation, data visualization, and early adoption of AI and ML in engineering design​

Experience

1. Engineering Manager, Aerospace (Aero Engines & Structures)

   GKN Aerospace

   Apr 2017 — Present · Bangalore, IN

   Lead overall engineering operations for a multi‑disciplinary organization of 150+ FTEs, covering business governance, compliance, performance management, and engineering delivery for engines, airframes, and defense portfolios.​- Establish and maintain technical delegation and authority frameworks that enhance engineering governance, traceability, and compliance with airworthiness and internal quality standards.​- Drive operational strategy, enterprise risk management, and business continuity planning in alignment with corporate policies and local regulatory requirements.​- Spearhead ~20% YoY growth of India operations, expanding support to 15+ global sites and strengthening India’s role as a product and technology hub within the global network.​- Implement governance and internal control systems compliant with AS9100D, ISO18001, and ISO45001 frameworks, ensuring audit readiness and robust internal controls.​- Champion data‑driven operations by developing Power BI dashboards that link engineering KPIs to financial performance and drive executive decision‑making.​- Embed Lean operating systems and digital automation for productivity improvements and engineering efficiency- Lead Agile and digital transformation initiatives, transitioning from traditional waterfall approaches to improved flow efficiency and faster, accurate solution delivery.​- Build and mentor engineering management teams (4–6 managers, 150+ FTEs), using tactical improvement plans and KPIs to drive performance and capability development.​- Drive capability and capacity planning by balancing internal resources and external supplier networks, managing flex ratio and minimizing unused capacity while meeting demand.​- Own annual budgeting processes, including revenue forecasting and optimization of operational expenditure to meet business and portfolio objectives.​- Achieve top‑quartile engagement scores through structured communication, leadership visibility, and performance management.

Education

• Indian Institute of Science (IISc)

  ME, Aerospace

  2001 — 2002

• Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University

  BTECH, Civil Engineering

  1995 — 1999

Skills

• Aerodynamics
• Structural Analysis
• Damage Tolerance
• Msc Patran
• Offload Management
• Hypermesh
• Stress Analysis
• Management
• Composites
• Simulations
• Fatigue and Damage Tolerance
• Nastran
• Cae
• Project Management
• Finite Element Analysis
• Engines and Nacelles
• Fatigue Analysis
• Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Aerospace
• Mathcad
• Unigraphics
• Ansys
• Fortran
• Abaqus
• Engineering Management
• Aircraft
• Six Sigma
• Aerospace Engineering
• Aircraft Structures
• Aeronautics
• Systems Engineering
• Msc.patran