Month: June 2017

There is no school in the world that can match the exposure and experience one gains doing practical groundwork,” says Yohan. The aspects he had to focus on to strengthen the natural impulse of his business acumen dawned upon him early in life. He also learnt early that tougher the conditions the better you are molded.

There were no exceptions for him in the initial years of his career before he took over as the Chairman & Managing Director of The Poonawalla Group of Engineering Companies. He rigorously took rounds down the shop floor and spent time in R&D to grasp as much as he could. Helping him in his zest to continue nurture the legendary Poonawalla legacy was another knack he learnt early – careful observation is the key to quick decisions. So, he observed the market, global economic changes, mechanical process cycle, mass tendencies and their general approach to economic changes and so on to identify opportunities, made quick and favorable decisions and applied them in his business strategies.

AVANT-GARDE TRAILBLAZER

“If you wish to fly high, think differently, make innovative moves and take calculative risks,” shares Yohan. To further expand his conglomerate and make a mark in an individual capacity, he diversified into the hospitality industry about 12 years ago by acquiring properties overseas, which have turned into prime estate and landmarks providing the best in the industry as making strategic real estate investments in India.

Of course, Horses are very close to the entire Poonawalla family’s hearts and they are deeply bonded over their love for horses. They have not only achieved the title of the leading stud farm in the country, but have also made a mark globally in this industry. They have made thoroughbred history, as back to back In The Spotlight and her half-brother Mystical won at the Dubai Racing Carnival in 2007, Astonish won in Hong Kong, Adler in America and Simply Noble in Malaysia. Thus, the Poonawalla family has brought laurels to the Indian Horse Breeding Industry and our nation by consistently making history on international racing tracks.

SHARP AND VISIONARY

“Leadership cannot be given, you have to earn it! To be a leader, you need to first have the basic credentials and major achievements which your people can look up to. You are a good leader if you can delegate the right assignments to the right people for which you need to have an eye for the qualities in a candidate and gauge his/her capabilities to execute responsibilities,” believes Yohan.

He further feels that one needs to establish oneself as a “man of the people” and ensure one’s employees’ prosperity and growth. He strongly believes in applying teamwork to successfully achieve dreams and visions as high as his. He further elaborates, “How do I motivate teamwork amongst my people and achieve my goals? Well, this is the area I personally monitor – from our HR policies to personal incentives, taking part in all major recruitments to supporting employee welfare programs.” Additionally, he feels that the other most important attribute in leadership is to demonstrate good values and integrity. All the Poonawallas strongly believe in implementing and practicing high ethical and moral values in all their business policies, and thus have set exemplary benchmarks since the inception of the Group. They take great pride in taking forward their family legacy of great values and business philosophies passed on since generations, which Yohan and his wife Michelle Poonawalla look forward to inculcate in their children too.

FULFILLMENT IN PROFESSIONAL & PERSONAL LIFE

“All good business investments give me a sense of contentment and an opportunity to expand further,” Yohan shares.
Credit of a large part of his success undoubtedly goes to his wife Michelle who not only is his better half and the backbone of their family but also a superwoman when it comes to corporate decisions or major business acquisitions. Her flawless prowess in handling business ups and downs, her conviction and poise in advising and building corporate strategies, her penchant for designing their homes, factories or the farm, her exceptional skills as an artist which has now turned into a profession, her inclination for only the best, and the zeal with which she takes up all challenges, big and small, never fail to enthrall Yohan. “I am so glad that we make a great team and share similar business proficiency and acumen,” he adds.

Complementing his professional growth, he is always keen to learn from successful people who have achieved exceptional heights in the business world and have made a mark in the society. He admires eminent business personalities who believe in ethical business practices and in giving back to society.

CLEAR AND LOFTY VISION

He is committed to maximize customer satisfaction by consistently improving the quality of his products, services and delivery. He strives for the growth of his clients, employees, society and all his associates with Passion, Perfection and Performance. Passion to maintain leadership in everything he does, Perfection in what he promises and Performance in what he produces.

He continuously works towards growing his product range and his aim is to be a “One Stop Solution” in the Valve Automation Industry. To achieve his vision, he has strengthened his manufacturing and supplier base with self-certification. His products and manufacturing processes conform to international standards and have been qualified with numerous Indian and international certifications with exports to 46 countries.

BACK TO THE SOCIETY

For Yohan Poonawalla, corporate social responsibility is “most important! And we walk the talk!”
Be it medical aid or education for the underprivileged, creating gardens or infrastructure for the city, or making concerted efforts for the beautification of the society, Yohan takes a personal and professional interest.

The Poonawalla Group supports several Corporate Social Responsibility activities such as providing gainful employment to the Poona Leprosy Committee since 1990, thus playing an important role in almost eradicating the disease which is in play to date. Further, it donates towards “Zavaray Poonawalla Cancer Building” at the Ruby Hall Hospital, and for the beautifying and maintaining of “The Gool Poonawalla Garden”. It has also sponsored and has taken active participation in the construction of the Soli Poonawalla Road in Hadapsar and in promoting English-medium education at the “Soli Poonawalla Memorial High School”.

After studying Mechanical Engineering from Nicosia, Cyprus and then utilizing his 10 years of protracted experience, Mr. Ghasemi has been actively involved in the field as an advisor, real estate consultant, sales director, board member and a board advisor.

After completing his education, Mr. Ghasemi was engaged in manufacturing and family business for a few years until he started working in real estate which involved managing investments worth 100 million AED.

Working at the Al Masah International Real Estate Brokerage (LLC) as consultant or advisor for real estate developer companies such as Tiger Real Estate and Al Masah Real Estate Development (LLC), he played a key role in introducing the concept of unit transfers and the process of settlements within the developers.

Holding an entrepreneurial streak within himself, he established Emirates World Investments (EMWIN) and Freehold Sales Centre at the age of 27, and established and became the Chairman of Freehold Mediation and Information Real Estate Consultancy (FMI) at 32. He has successfully created a team of professionals involved in real estate settlements, totalling the market value of FMI to 6 billion AED.

INNOVATIVE AND VISIONARY

Mr. Ghasemi likes client interactions, extensive research & analysis, and then using his immense knowledge of stages such as Situation Analysis, Option Analysis & Execution in consulting & guiding the real estate investors & developers in reaching a win-win solution.

He has also created several research and awareness methods to be used during the FMI process so the investors can be well-informed about the current investment situations, projects, markets & can have an overall understanding of the investment value. With his practicality and wisdom in the real estate, he has also established real estate litigation monitoring which involves updates on previous cases within same or similar projects and a list of law firms with successful cases in similar projects.

A pragmatic leader, Mr. Ghasemi has undertaken a very beneficial & much-needed step by building a mediation team. In his matured exposure to the field, & realising that lack of license for mediation activities can put the investors at risk, he has taken an initiative to join the real estate consultants to cover the commercial negotiations & legal consultants to cover the contract terms, negotiations and preparations.

Asset Relocation is another one of Mr. Ghasemi’s forte. This has largely impacted and benefited several clients facing issues with their developers. He has managed to create a platform where in case of disputed projects, clients can be easily transferred from one developer to another with an active & reliable project.

An experience of 10 years & arduous work in real estate has enabled Mr. Ghasemi contributing to an increase of foreign investment capital flowing into the UAE real estate market. His guidance has raised his company, FMI to heights of prosperity : FMI is managing 2,700 units individually enclosed to 10,000 units from real estate developments. The real estate market today needs enigmatic, visionary & honest leaders like Mr. Ghasemi to help build and attain the trust of investors.

Dr. Mustafa is Chairman & Managing Director of Raj Group of Companies of Dubai, UAE, Partner in RTS Global, Director in Freehold Mediation & Information, Dubai, Chairman of Sell Force International LLC, ATM Consultants in Dubai & Sarrahraj Enterprise Pvt Ltd in India. He has done Masters in Emotional Intelligence and Criminology from UK, and has been bestowed Ph.D. in Leadership from University in Colombo.

He is also General Secretary in Dubai Chamber of Commerce for Building Material Trading Group, Peace Governor & UAE Chapter President for World Peace Diplomacy Organisation, Middle East Director of International Rain Water Catchments System Association, & is also a Governing Board Member to R K University in Gujarat & Executive Board Member of CEO Clubs International, Dubai. He is also Member of World Water Council & International Who’s Who of Professionals, USA, & a Mentor & Chief Advisor to many Corporates & Groups.

VISIONARY ENTREPRENEUR

Dr Saasa joined his father’s Business in 1990, & designed, articulated & implemented marketing strategy that transformed the Group from just a Family Brand to a Global Brand, revered for its technology, innovation, customer friendliness & product range. He honed his entrepreneurial skills under the tutelage of his father & Founder Chairman, Late Mr. Taherali Saasa.

Over the decades, Raj Group has diversified & expanded to other parts of the world into diverse business domains. Raj Group have their presence in the Middle East, Africa & India, & is engaged in fields of GPS Technology, Power Tools, Construction & Building Materials Hardware, Herbal & Cosmetics, Soft Skills Training, Consultancy, General Trading & Import-Export, all types of Bolts, Nuts, Fasteners, Hand Tools, Carpentry Tools, Measuring Equipment, Industrial Supplies, Oil Field, & Marine Supplies & Power Transmission System, etc.

ACHIEVEMENTS & PHILOSOPHY

Dr Saasa has been awarded with Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Samman in House of Lords, London by British Minister in London & Bharat Samman Award in New Delhi, & “Literary Excellence Award” by Bharat Nirman.

He has also received Pride of India, Rashtriya Udhyog Ratna Award, Outstanding National Citizen, Arch of Excellence, CEO of the Year, Gem of India, Business Visionary Award for Business Excellence, Indian Leadership Award for Industrial Development, etc.

As Member of World Water Council he has been working for “WATER” which is the most important element of life, at international level. He says that “Not a Single Drop of Rain Water should go into an Ocean without being utilised twice for the Human Cause”.

Dr Saasa feels that what he is today is because of Destiny, Almighty, Parents, Family, Friends, Business Associates, and his Roots.

He believes that there is no Shortcut to Success. He adds that, “I find Right People and Invest in them followed by Trust & their Empowerment” to do the job perfectly.

Dr Saasa adds that success depends on risks & “You need a clear mind & strong analytical power to make a correct decision – and then go for it. ”When the WHY is Clear, The How becomes Easy.”

All set to create new benchmarks for other veterans, his sharp managerial skills and versatility is a treasure for AirAsia India. Under his able leadership, the company is overcoming various ups and down with smart initiatives.

Mr. Amar Abrol was born and brought up in India and earned his graduate degree in Commerce from the University of Delhi. Later, he became a Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

His company is an Indian low-cost carrier that was established as a joint venture between Tata Sons Limited & AirAsia Investment Limited. The company began its operations in the year 2014 with Bengaluru as its primary hub. Today, AirAsia India has its headquarters in Chennai and is the fourth-largest low-cost carrier in India. AirAsia India currently operates flights from Bengaluru and Delhi to Chandigarh, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Imphal, Jaipur, Kochi, Pune, and Visakhapatnam.

TAKING NEW FLEET

After he took over the chair of CEO in April 2016, Mr. Amar Abrol propelled the airline on the growth trajectory with a full swing. He firmly believes that, “AirAsia India is poised for strong growth. I look forward to leading the team and together, giving many more Indians the opportunity to access the exciting promise of Indian civil aviation.”

Just eight months later, he has also been given the role of Managing Director of the company. He has made various investments to expand the fleet size of AirAsia India, and through his continuous rigorous efforts to achieve commercial goals, AirAsia India has become one of the significant airlines in the aviation industry.

With a rich experience of more than 20 years, he has worked with various organizations learning a lot about the business world. In his career, he has gained knowledge about new business development, strategic planning, pricing, business development, and project management across Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Before being appointed as the Chief Executive officer of AirAsia India in 2016, he was the CEO of Tune Money (an AirAsia Company), a start-up that aims to deliver low-cost financial products in South East Asia. He also spent more than 18 years in American Express where he was responsible for spearheading diverse teams across different international markets such as Hong Kong, Singapore, UK, India, and Malaysia. As Mr. Amar Abrol has worked in various countries across the world, he has strong cross-cultural communication and negotiation skills, which help him in making good international relations with the clients.

BRINGING EXCELLENCE IN AIR

Endowed with an amicable personality, he ensures that his team also grows with the company and takes various steps to groom them. Mr. Amar Abrol completely understands the significance of moral and ethical values of a business and hence ensures that the company also works according to these principles.

This intellectual leader knows how to make things happen and turn them into a positive approach altogether. Many people can have ideas that can transform the world but what counts in the world is whether one has the ability to execute that idea properly or not. An exceptional execution is the actual key to success. Being that exceptional spearhead, Mr. Amar Abrol is endowed with strong ability to generate new ideas and then executive them in the utmost manner. His commitment towards his goals is commendable. He works tirelessly to pursue potential business opportunities with new strategies and creativity setting strong examples for others to follow.

Change begins with us,” weaving his thoughts into these words, Mr. Bhavdeep Singh follows his own league to transform the society. According to him, one should first carve one’s own path to lead others towards a constructive path.

A crucial member of Fortis Healthcare, the second-largest hospital chain in the country, his visionary approach in the healthcare business is commendable. His phenomenal people management experience coupled with his strong operations and business acumen has undoubtedly transformed Fortis into name synonyms with excellence, trust, and compassion.

ACQUIRING MATCHLESS PROFICIENCY

An alumnus of Pace University, Mr. Bhavdeep Singh has an impressive educational background. He has completed several certified courses in Leadership and Executive Management from premier institutions such as the Harvard Business School, Cornell University, University of Hartford, Dial Institute of Management, and St. Joe’s University in the United States.

With more than 25 years of experience, Mr. Bhavdeep Singh has held several senior executive roles in HR, Retail, and Healthcare. These diverse sectors have helped him in gaining an insight to enhance the growth of the organizations he works with. In addition to this, he has a global expertise and he has worked across multiple geographies as well. This has resulted in his understanding of the human resources and the ways to handle various situations in a positive manner. In the present time, Mr. Bhavdeep Singh is widely known for his exceptional record of building and leading great teams whilst delivering outstanding results.

Earlier, Mr. Bhavdeep Singh used to work with Ahold, a USD 26 billion retailer with almost 800 stores. He was on the Executive Board of the establishment and stayed there for almost five years. An EVP HR of the firm, his sheer dedication led him to be the head of Ahold’s US operations and new formats business. He was also associated with A&P for over 28 years and held various important senior leadership positions covering crucial aspects of the business. His key areas of responsibility included Operations, Merchandising, Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain/Logistics, HR, Labor Relations, Asset Protection, Productivity, and other support functions. In addition to this, he has also served in companies like Spencer’s Retail and Reliance Fresh.

THE ASSIDUOUS INITIATOR

According to Mr. Bhavdeep Singh, the Indian healthcare sector is poised for growth and his target for his hospitals is to accelerate this pace with utmost care and compassion. With a renewed vigor and focus, he is walking ahead to deliver clinical excellence without compromise. He looks forward to working towards building an institution known for clinical excellence and distinctive patient care.

As a proud CEO who focuses on patient care, he continues to excel in the healthcare sector by innovative new ways to eradicate the troubles that this field is facing. Under his dedicated and exemplary leadership, Fortis Healthcare is committed to provide the best possible care to every single patient every day. Recently, this new-age humanitarian has also taken the pledge to be an organ donor. Mr. Bhavdeep Singh’s compassionate nature and rich knowledge not only redefine the characteristics of a true leader but also inspire others to be the trailblazers while enlightening the lives of thousands of people.

Having earned his BTech and MTech degrees from IIT Delhi and a Doctorate from University of Toronto, Dr. Jitendra Das chose to further pursue his passion into academics – after gathering first-hand knowledge on corporate working while working with Wipro and the DCM Group – by teaching management courses at some of the most prestigious management institutes in India.

His august stature in the realm of education can be judged by the fact that he has taught several marketing subjects at IIM Lucknow, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Kozhikode, SP Jain Center of Management at Singapore, and the Business School of the University of Danube at Krems, Austria. In addition, he holds the distinction of being the Founder Dean of the IIM Lucknow-Noida Campus.

He has ensured transparency and high ethical practices in his institute as he firmly believes they are the key elements of any institute’s success. Through these values, he has further created personal, departmental and procedural success for everyone in his institute.

ADVANCING THE LEGACY

With a total corporate and teaching work experience of more than 30 years, he completely understands the structural and marketing pulse of the corporate world, and prepares his students to take any challenge head on by learning and practicing on the latest and a wide range of application software that are available at his institute.

Harvard/IIM case discussions, interactive lectures and simulations in the classroom, live projects, and industry & rural visits are just some basic tools that he has introduced for his students, thus creating a well-built structure for them and making them strong-yet-flexible and high on emotional quotient to face the highly competitive corporate world. Of course, the students are taught to become competitive on a strong base of work culture and values.

Understanding the responsibility that has been bestowed on him in the capacity of Director of FORE School of Management, he has always endeavoured towards establishing only the highest standards and benchmarks for his students and other management institutes by instilling the “FORE first” attitude in every aspect of the institution.

To ensure best results for his students, he has been personally involved in constructing a conducive academic & right learning environment in his institute, through which highly skilled MBA graduates are produced possessing great analytical abilities and contemporary knowledge about the ever-changing new business environment.

BETTER THAN THE BEST

Dr. Das has focused on creating a complete learning environment for his students, to help them excel and bag the best corporate packages and companies, often surpassing the other premier B-schools of the country and even Indian Institutes of Management.

Under his guidance, FORE School of Management has been consistently offering to its students excellent infrastructure, and administrative & pedagogical software, which is equivalent or better than the best B-schools in India. The world-class approach at the institute, in terms of offering its students the highest quality of education and a technology-driven experience, has year-after-year inspired its students to perform competitively compared to other top B-schools. As a result, not only the industry has responded favorably, but the students have also been focusing on starting their own entrepreneurial ventures instead of following the herd and accepting lucrative offers of placements.

Looking back at the timeline of events that Dr. Buxani has witnessed, one can resolutely state that anyone can taste boundless success – provided one has an iron will. His evolution from an aspiring young man struggling to make ends meet to a meritorious world-renowned businessman is nothing short of a fairytale that has transformed into reality.

If one were to trace the course of Dr. Buxani’s momentous life, he would find it immensely inspiring. Born into a refugee family, he had to face several hardships after the India-Pakistan partition. After his father’s death, his mother had to work hard to earn a living. Owing to his family’s degrading financial situation, Dr. Buxani had to stop his studies abruptly and start working. He decided to try his luck in Dubai (then a part of the Trucial States) and he applied for a job at International Traders (Middle East) Ltd. (ITL), in response to an advertisement in a Bombay newspaper.
This changed his life forever.

A VISIONARY STRATEGIST

Who would have thought that a young poor man from India working for a meagre salary of Rs 125 would become the Chairman of one of the leading conglomerates of the UAE?

Lacking any sort of guidance and support, Dr. Buxani has established himself as one of the leading personalities in the corporate sector and was voted as the Top Indian Leader in the Arab World by the world-renowned business magazine – Forbes, thrice!

After 56 years, accepting new roles and responsibilities, today he is the Chairman of the Group. His market sense and conscientious nature have taken ITL Cosmos Group to new heights. What started as a textile outlet has now diversified into several sectors including IT, electronics, finance, and manufacturing and has been voted as one of the Top 100 companies in Dubai.

Apart from spearheading the Group, Dr. Buxani holds prestigious positions in various organizations. He was a pioneering promoter of IndusInd Bank and has served as the Chairman of Indian High School and the India Club. In addition to this, he also laid down the foundation of the Overseas Indians’ Economic Forum and has been the forerunner of Indian Business and Professional Council. Ranked among the most influential Indians in the UAE, Dr. Buxani played a significant role in the formation of Dubai’s first trade group – The Electronics Group.

A SUCCINCT INSPIRATION

“Success is a habit,” emphasizes Dr. Buxani. In the course of his outstanding tenure at the ITL Cosmos Group, he concentrated on his goals and strengthened his skills for advancing the company on a trailblazing path, accepting the dynamic nature of the business world all along and consistently innovating when faced with a threat.

Not forgetting his passion for education, Dr. Buxani later resumed his studies and earned his Ph.D. in 2004 from a prestigious Washington International university by penning down a thesis titled Governance of Dubai: The influence of tribal tradition in decision-making, especially in the critical periods of the development of the city-state and was later conferred an honorary D.Litt. degree by the DY Patil University, Mumbai. Accentuating the growth of the UAE’s education sector, he also campaigned for it. To motivate the new generation, he has also published his autobiography Taking the High Road bringing his visionary ideas to the fore, which has been translated into 7 languages.

A passionate individual, Dr. Buxani has consistently made his presence felt as a visionary leader and spokesman for the Indian community in the UAE.

Apacesetter in the IT industry, Mr. Chandrasekaran is truly an exemplification of a great leader who never left his ethical values and incorporated those in his business and delivered cutting-edge solutions and services to the customers. Launching new initiatives while expanding the company’s portfolio, Mr. Chandrasekaran is bringing the best of the digital world to the industry.

Spanning a vast range of key functions ranging from corporate strategy and customer relationship management to business development and operations management, Mr. Chandrasekaran has more than 20 years of experience working in the IT services industry. It is his immense dedication, strategic steps, and noteworthy team management that today, the firm marks its name among the most influential organizations of the country.

Mr. Ramakrishnan Chandrasekaran has an impressive educational background. He holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from the National Institute of Technology. To refine his skills and enhance his knowledge of management studies, he pursued a Master of Business Administration degree from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management Bangalore.

THE CAREER CONTOUR

During his outstanding tenure at Cognizant, a leading provider of information technology, consulting, and business process outsourcing services, Mr. Ramakrishnan Chandrasekaran has played a variety of roles dealing with almost every aspect of the company’s growth factors. His extraordinary journey with Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp began in 1994 when he was appointed as the Assistant Vice President. Later in 1997, he was promoted to the position of its Vice President.

Due to his exceptional dedication and transforming vision, he was given the current position in the year 2013. Presently, he is responsible for maintaining the broad business relationships of the company and leading the teams to achieve greater levels of client intimacy to help key clients in their transformation journey.

Earlier, he worked with various prominent establishments where he honed his entrepreneurial skills to be at the top. For instance, he served in the companies like Tata Consultancy Services and of Kumpulan Guthrie Bhd.

THE OUTSTANDING MAVERICK

Mr. Ramakrishnan Chandrasekaran believes that self-confidence, innovation, and the drive to be different are the three key qualities of being a successful entrepreneur and there is no doubt in the fact that his remarkable personality is a perfect amalgamation of these ingredients. He has that confidence and the passion to create something innovative that will transform the digital world and set new benchmarks for the competitors. This is what he is continuously doing at Cognizant. With an intense focus on strengthening Cognizant’s already established empire, he brings a vast global perspective, deep industry experience, and passion for innovation on the fore and excellently incorporates them in the strategic steps he takes for the firm.

Apart from being the Executive Vice Chairman of Cognizant India, he has been Vice Chairman of NASSCOM and an Independent Director of PNB Housing Finance Limited as well. He has also been the Chairman of The Executive Council at National Association of Software and Service Companies. A 2008 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from the National Institute of Technology, Trichy, Mr. Chandrasekaran has undoubtedly excelled in his life making everyone associated with him including his alma mater proud, and in turn has become one of the most respected people of India.

One of the most astonishing characteristics of Suresh Narayanan is his zeal to make the brand outshine everyone in competition. “In his words, I have a simple mantra, I want the organization to have three behaviors – be fast, meaning empowerment and taking a few risks; get focused, to know what you do well and not ape what others are doing; and to be flexible in terms of market outcome, future market share and evolution. If these three behaviors are unleashed into the business, we will not only run it better, we will also come up with newer business models that will be more compelling for the future.”

The Nestle India chief and the man who is often referred to as the consistent crisis manager has already set his sights on doubling the company’s revenue in India over the next 4-5 years, according to two people within the company who asked not to be named.

A LIFETIME OF SUCCESS

Mr. Narayanan holds a Master’s Degree in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics. He has a Diploma from the IMD Program for Executive Development and has participated in the Nestlé Leadership Program of the London Business School. He has over 30 years of rich and exhaustive experience in the FMCG Industry and has held senior management and top leadership roles in leading global companies.

Mr. Narayanan began his career as a management trainee with Hindustan Unilever, where he held numerous positions of increasing responsibility in Sales, Marketing and General Management. He has also worked with Colgate Palmolive in India. He was the Chairman and CEO of Nestlé Philippines prior to joining Nestlé India as Managing Director. Mr. Narayanan joined Nestlé in 1999 as Executive Vice President for Sales in India, where he spearheaded major structural and strategic changes in Sales and Customer Management and set up the chilled dairy business. He moved to Nestlé Indochina in 2003, as Executive Director for Sales, Marketing and Food-Services, covering the countries of Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. Two years later in 2005, he returned to India as Head of Sales for India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.

In 2008, Mr. Narayanan was appointed as Managing Director of Nestlé Singapore Pte. Ltd., and remained there until 2010. During his time the overall business in Singapore witnessed sustained growth amidst the economic downturn. He was awarded the Medal of Commendation by the Government of Singapore in 2010, for excellence in employee relations. He moved to Nestlé Egypt as Chairman and CEO and Head of NEAR, where his initiatives resulted in significant business growth and investments despite the turbulence and volatility faced by the region at this time.

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE

There is no greater moment to kick start an organization than post a crisis. If crisis is looked at positively, it is the greatest opportunity to recalibrate, redefine, reenergize, and refocus you. This was the belief which helped Suresh Narayanan in raising the brand equity once again after the controversy of Maggi. He took over the credentials of the brand after government laboratories claimed to have found high lead content in the noodles, and the popular snack was subsequently ordered removed from stores in many states in June 2015.

His strategic planning and hard-work have successfully reclaimed company’s leadership in the instant noodles market with more than 50% market share because of his massive contribution.

The man of a vision and a constructor of beautiful realities, Y. Rajeev Reddy is certainly the pole star in the constellation of real estate developers of India. Rooted to the soil of values and grown into the branches of unmatched perfection, Y. Rajeev Reddy’s journey to the zenith of success is an exemplary one. He started from scratch and traversed his way to the pinnacle. He not only created splendid properties, but tremendous experiences as well on this path. His pristine determination has transformed his brand into a name that reflects the qualities of confidence, creativity and capability.

CARVING DESTINY

Y. Rajeev Reddy was just 21 years old when he ventured into the realm of real estate development with a heart full of desire to rule the industry. The young commerce graduate was not looking for a career but for a life in the profession – a life which he wanted to utilize for earning and spreading happiness all around. Passionate about his dreams, he built his triumph castle block-by-block, sealing each brick with the cement of hard work and innovation.

His first company Amrutha Estates, which was named after his mother, started operating in the year 1981 with a project called Ashiana, a residential complex consisting of 20 deluxe flats, in the capital city of Andhra Pradesh. The project made his name an instant hit in the market and a number of successful projects flowed towards him.

Though the man – since his initial days – was involved in the creation of residential properties, he found his treasure chest hidden in the lanes of leisure industry. Starting from one club in Hyderabad, his creations in the sector sprang up to four verticals namely clubbing, holidays, hospitality, and events. Today, he has ownership of over 50 properties, 25 fitness centers, and more than 3,000 global affiliations. The corridors of Country Clubs have hosted a number of national and international celebrities, and the brand echoes the story of Y. Rajeev Reddy’s conviction and hard work.

ECLECTIC WAY OF LIFE

The dynamic entrepreneur believes that the secret to his success remains in the fact that he is still young at heart, and he uses this youthful energy to learn new things. He believes that it is never too late to mark a new beginning, and hence is ever eager to scrutinize, understand, and adapt himself to the ever-changing dynamics of the industry. Y. Rajeev Reddy reckons that the world has been through a massive technological transformation since the day he started, and whilst many people leave it for the second generation to match pace with technology, he himself has embraced the trend open-heartedly. He is a tech-savvy person, who connects with his staff through video conferences, and is very active on all the social media platforms as well.

And if one may wonder what keeps Y. Rajeev Reddy young and thriving – it is his love for fitness and sports. His day starts with power training at the gym, which is followed by an energizing session of Yoga. He loves to swim and enjoys adventure sports like paragliding, river rafting, and scuba diving. He believes that a healthy mind resides in a healthy body and thus, focuses to keep a healthy lifestyle, balancing it with enough amounts of work and play.