Wishnu Wardhana

Wishnu Wardhana (born 18 October 1970 in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Indonesia) is a respectable Indonesian businessman. He currently serves as the President Director and Group CEO of PT Indika Energy tbk. (INDY.JK) - Indonesia’s leading integrated energy company - since May 2013.

Early life

Born in a family running timber business in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Wishnu moved to Jakarta at the age of 5. After finishing high school, he continued his study at Pepperdine University, USA, and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1993.

When he returned to Jakarta, the economy was in good shape and job opportunities were plentiful with banks and major companies crying out for young talents. But this conventional career path did not appeal to him, and neither was Wishnu keen to join his father’s timber business. He was a stubborn dreamer who knew what he wanted in life so he started his own business.

In 1994, together with Muhammad Lutfi, Erick Thohir, and R. Harry Zulnardy, he co-founded Mahaka Group. It made its first transactions in mining and commodities, although later diversifying into media business by investing in a television station. Later Wishnu decided to become a silent partner and eventually sold his shares.

During the Asian crisis of the late 1990s, Wishnu foresaw that the crash would usher in a different way of operating for local enterprises. Together with his family, he set up Teladan Resources in 2003 and moved into the property sector. Later, the company expanded into agriculture by investing in large palm oil plantations in Kalimantan through its subsidiary Teladan Prima Group.

In 2004, Wishnu reunited with his two university friends, Agus Lasmono and M. Arsjad Rasjid P.M., to create a joint force to expand Indika Energy which was established earlier in 2000.

Career

Early Years

Wishnu first served as the Vice President Director and Co-CEO of Indika Energy from May 2009 before he was appointed as President Director and Group CEO in May 2013.

Currently he also serves as President Commissioner of PT Indika Infrastruktur Investindo (since 2008), Vice President Commissioner of PT Petrosea Tbk. (since 2013), PT Tripatra Engineers & Constructors and PT Tripatra Engineering (since 2012), Commissioner of PT Mitrabahtera Segara Sejati Tbk. (since 2013), PT Indika Mitra Energi (since 2005), PT Indoturbine (since 2005), PT Kideco Jaya Agung (since 2005), PT Indika Energy Infrastructure (since 2010), President Director of PT Teladan Resources (since 2004) and PT Indika Inti Corpindo (since 2008).

Wishnu is also active in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Advisory Council (ABAC) where he has been ABAC Indonesia Chair since 2012 and ABAC Chair in 2013. He is also the World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Growth Company’s (GGC) Top Executive since 2010. In addition he is Vice Chairman of the Energy, Oil & Gas of Kamar Dagang dan Industri (KADIN; Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry).

Wishnu ran as a candidate of KADIN Chairman election in 2010 and was made runner-up. He was the youngest among 5 candidates which included Suryo B. Sulityo, Chris Kanter, Sandiaga Salahudin Uno, and Adi Putra Darmawan Tahir.

Earlier Wishnu was also active in Himpunan Pengusaha Muda Indonesia (HIPMI; Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association) from 1994 to 2002.

Indika Energy

Incorporated in 2000, PT Indika Energy tbk. is Indonesia’s leading integrated energy company with diversified investments in the areas of energy resources, energy services, and energy infrastructure. Indika Energy focuses on how energy relates to Indonesia’s development and finds ways for these interconnections to be strengthened to promote economic and social progress.

In an interview with China Daily Asia (14 January 2014), Wishnu recounted the history of Indika Energy. It was initially a $150 million investment. The company acquired assets of coal by purchasing 46 percent shares of PT Kideco Jaya Agung, the third largest coal producer in Indonesia. Then Tripatra, a major engineering, procurement and construction company in the country, joined Indika Energy’s portfolio.

In 2008, Indika Energy was listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX) in the midst of its drive to consistently develop and expand its business scope both organically and through acquisitions to firmly encompass all aspects of the energy resources, services and infrastructure sectors which have become its three key business pillars.

Companies comprising the Indika Energy's three business pillars include, but not limited to:

• Energy Resources: PT Kideco Jaya Agung, PT Multi Tambangjaya Utama, PT Santan Batubara, and PT Mitra Energi Agung.

• Energy Services: PT Petrosea tbk., PT Tripatra Engineers and Constructors, and PT Tripatra Engineering.

• Energy Infrastructure: PT Mitrabahtera Segara Sejati tbk.(MBSS.JK), PT Cirebon Electric Power, PT Kuala Pelabuhan Indonesia, and PT Petrosea Offshore Supply Base (POSB).

Indika Energy guides a group of major operating companies and a number of other business entities with extensive experience in the coal, oil, and gas energy sectors. With a highly skilled workforce, the expertise stretches across the value chain from energy resource exploration to electricity generation.

Teladan Resources

Teladan Resources is an investment holding company which was initiated and set up by Wishnu and the family of Wiwoho Basuki Tjokronegoro, Wishnu’s father-in-law. Its portfolio includes PT Indika Energy Tbk., PT Teladan Services – which cover distribution of technical products such as solar gas turbine, oil and gas industry supplies, and process control and instrumentation services, PT Teladan Prima Agro (Teladan Prima Group) – which runs around 50 thousands hectare of palm oil plantations and crude palm oil (CPO) processing plants and produces electricity from biomass for the local communities in East Kalimantan, and PT Teladan Properties – which owns The Capital Residence apartment, known to be one of the most prestigious and luxurious residences around Jakarta business districts.

In 2013, through PT Teladan Investama, Wishnu joined Agus Lasmono in co-founding the Indonesian television station NET. TV which introduced a new and modern concept of an Indonesian television station that appeals to the young segment (15–30 years old) and is fully equipped by high-end broadcasting technology. Although Wishnu himself does not really have the passion in media business, he has a solid trust in Agus who is also his partner in Indika Energy.

“The key is that there should be somebody that we trust to run the business who can deliver good returns.”

Other Professional Activities

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Advisory Council (ABAC)

ABAC is an independent high-level group of business people who advise Presidents and Prime Ministers - APEC Economic Leaders - on priority issues for business in the region. ABAC was established by regional leaders in 1995 to provide business input into the APEC forum.

Wishnu was first appointed as the Indonesian Member of ABAC based on the decree of the President of the Republic of Indonesia No. 130M year 2009. Wishnu was then appointed as the ABAC Indonesia Chair based on the Decree of President of Republic of Indonesia No.79M year 2012.

In 2013, as Indonesia chaired APEC, Wishnu served as the Chair of ABAC and successfully delivered the recommendations to the APEC Economic Leaders during the ABAC Dialogue with Leaders in Bali, 8 October 2013. Every year ABAC meets with APEC Economic Leaders to present its business recommendations in the frame of ABAC Dialogue with Leaders. As Chair and Member of ABAC, Wishnu has accompanied President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in multiple ABAC Dialogue with Leaders, including President Barack Obama of USA, President Stephen Harper of Canada, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda of Japan, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore in Honolulu, 13 November 2011, and President Vladimir Putin and State Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton in Vladivostok, 8 September 2012. In 2013 as Chair of ABAC Wishnu presented in front of 21 APEC Economic Leaders, including Prime Minister Tony Abbott of Australia, Prime Minister Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam, Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada, President Sebastián Piñera of Chile, President Xi Jinping of China, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia, Prime Minister Shinzō Abe of Japan, President Park Geun-Hye of South Korea, Prime Minister Najib Razak of Malaysia, President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico, Prime Minister John Key of New Zealand, President Ollanta Humala of Peru, President Benigno Aquino III of the Philippines, President Vladimir Putin of Russia, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of Thailand, and President Truong Tan Sang of Vietnam.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit 2013

When Wishnu Wardhana received an invitation to chair the APEC CEO Summit 2013 in Bali in October, he jumped at the chance. For the President Director and Group CEO of Indonesian power company Indika Energy, the APEC CEO Summit was an unrivaled opportunity to meet political and business leaders from the region, and to advocate for change in the business and economic world. Held in Nusa Dua, Bali, on 5–7 October 2013, the Summit took the theme of ‘Towards Resilience and Growth: Reshaping Priorities for Global Economy’ and provided insightful discussion by top policy makers, business leaders and innovative thinkers on securing inclusive sustainable growth and achieving the aim of shared development and common prosperity for all.

Over 1200 Summit delegates – 61% of whom are CEOs, president directors or chairpersons, 21% are board members, and another 18% are other senior executives – took part in the engaging sessions on most pressing business and economic issues in the region.

World Economic Forum

Indika Energy has been an active member of World Economic Forum (WEF) since 2010. In 2011, the company was chosen among 315 members of the Global Growth Companies (GGC) from over 60 countries as the role model of the community. Indika Energy is the only Indonesian company that has ever received such recognition from the reputable Forum. In WEF, Wishnu is Global Growth Companies (GGC) Partner’s Top Executive.

Personal life

In 1996 Wishnu married his university friend, Widiyanti Putri (daughter of Wiwoho Basuki Tjokronegoro) who also actively manages Teladan Resources as a Director. They have two daughters, Katyana Azlia Wardhana and Katrina Alysha Wardhana.

Wishnu practices healthy lifestyle and does routine swimming, gym exercises, and occasional golf. He used to be active in soccer, basketball, and car racing too.

In 2013, Wishnu was featured as an international model for Kiton, an Italian luxury, bespoke clothing company.