Marc Drew, Chief Executive Officer of International Aerospace Manufacturing Pvt Ltd (IAMPL), an equal joint venture between Rolls Royce and Hindustan Aeronautics, has been in India for over a year now. In a chat with BusinessLine , Drew, who started as a graduate trainee with Rolls Royce in 1990, shares his views about India and what it takes to work here.

Do you have friends here in Bengaluru? Do you meet with the local people?

My family and I have settled in Bengaluru quite quickly and easily. People here are very welcoming. My wife made friends almost from the first week. My kids are pretty well settled in their school. I like this city for the diversity of people, not just in expat community. This is a very cosmopolitan place. As an employer, it translates into a lot of talented people. We have a very strong team and I think that is one of the great strengths of Bengaluru and India, in general. Not just the demographics but the willingness of people to learn. Here people are focused on achieving success, aim for constant improvement and are open and ready to take on new challenges.

Apart from India and the UK, where have you worked?

I have spent half of my career in the UK, then moved to India. I also worked in Canada for nine years. I have been overseas for almost 13 years and probably spent about the same time in the UK.

All for the same company?

Yes, for Rolls-Royce.

That’s unique, isn’t it?

It is certainly unique. I got to work in different countries, live different roles, etc. At Rolls-Royce, I have taken on different roles every two-three years, and been exposed to different cultures in different countries; that is part of the traction.

How do you find the Indian work culture? How does it compare with some of the developed economies?

I don’t see any difference. I think, from an aerospace point of view, we have people within India with the same level of knowledge as those in the US or the UK. I see no difference in the level of education. I feel India has a vast talent pool and the thing that really impresses me is the work ethics, work culture and ability to take on challenges. It is a great asset for India. But, for technical and higher level skills, we do send our people to be trained in the UK, as A&D is still an evolving industry in India.

Have you visited other parts of the country?

I have travelled a lot within India. I have been to Kochi, Mysore, Chennai, Kanchipuram, Pondicherry and Goa. We haven’t done North India yet. So, maybe we will visit Taj Mahal soon.

What do you find unique about India?

Personally, I think it is the people. That is what I have enjoyed the most — the hospitality of the people here. From the professional point of view, it has been fantastic to work with the team. For me, the takeaway is the people and, obviously, the diversity. On the personal front, the weather is fantastic here in Bangalore and the food is excellent.

Is the skill set here is similar to what you may find in the US or in the UK?

Definitely. In aerospace, there is quite the same level of experience the industry needs today. What people lack in experience, they make up for with their willingness to learn and adopt new practices.

What kind of work does IAMPL do?

At IAMPL, we make components for Trent 700 engines (only civil aerospace engines), which go into the Dreamliner, Airbus A350 & A330, the wide-bodied range of aircraft. We also make engines for narrow-bodied aircraft, like the V-2500 engine used in Airbus A320.

In terms of exports, how much does Rolls-Royce India do every year? How much do you buy from India?

The IAMPL facility, when at full production next year, is expected to generate about $40 million.

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