Anil Manibhai Naik, Group Executive Chairman of Larsen & Toubro Limited is a visionary with an action plan. An engineer with the spirit of an entrepreneur and a heart for the underprivileged. A leader with the energy and the enthusiasm to deliver cutting-edge solutions to a wide spectrum of business globally. Mr. Naik is a business idol reflecting the essential qualities of professionalism, entrepreneurship and a passionate commitment to advancing the interests of all the stakeholders. With his commitment to organisation-building and nurturing human capital, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) was able to overcome all the challenges it faced and continues to do so.
Mr. Naik has been successful in creating a culture within the organization which empowers its employees, and created an environment where all the employees strive to perform to the best of their ability.
Entering the Dream Company…. then and Leading it
While pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, it was Mr. Naik’s dream to work at L&T. But, he got that opportunity only after he gained significant experience at another firm, and joined L&T in 1965 as a junior engineer. Despite the low salary L&T offered him, but he was happy to join the company as it was his dream to work here.
His commitment to the organisation and his managing skills gained him a promotion as General Manager in 1986. In 1999, he became the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director. And in 2003, he was appointed as Group Executive Chairman of Larsen & Toubro Ltd. Effective April 2012, the Board of Directors extended Mr. Naik’s tenure as Group Executive Chairman.
Larsen & Toubro: It’s all About Imagineering
Larsen & Toubro is a major technology, engineering, construction, manufacturing and financial services conglomerate, with global operations. L&T addresses critical needs in key sectors—Hydrocarbon, Infrastructure, Power, Process Industries and Defense – for customers in over 30 countries.nd the world.
L&T is engaged in core, high-impact sectors of the economy, and posseses integrated capabilities spanning the entire spectrum of ‘design to deliver’. With over seven decades of a strong customer-focused approach and the continuous quest for world-class quality, L&T has unmatched expertise across Technology, Engineering, Construction, Infrastructure Projects and Manufacturing, and maintains leadership position in many of the areas it operates.
The Company’s manufacturing footprint extends across eight countries in addition to India. L&T has several international offices and a supply chain that extends around the globe.
Exceeding Corporate Responsibilities
Under Mr. Naik’s leadership, L&T ascended the value chain, providing total project solutions in critical sectors – Power, Hydrocarbon, Infrastructure, IT & Engineering Services, etc. Mr. Naik led L&T’s entry into synergistic businesses – Ports, Airports, Railways, Shipbuilding, Mass Rapid Transit Systems and more.
His conviction and courage enabled him to take several landmark decisions. These include protecting the company’s professional character, divesting L&T’s large cement business, and unlocking value by listing the financial services business.
Mr. Naik aligned L&T’s capabilities to the demands of the emerging economic environment, transforming it into a world-class conglomerate. Despite the global economic downturn in 2008, Mr. Naik succeeded in sustaining the company’s upward growth trajectory. The leadership he provided during turbulent times ensured that the interests of all stakeholders continue to be protected.
Exceeding Social Responsibilities
Both Mr. Naik and L&T have set a milestone for corporate social responsibilities that every organization should emulate. Mr. Naik comes from a family of teachers. His father resigned from a very well-known city school to be able to impart education in rural India. Mr. Naik gained the passion to work for the nation from his family. So, from the beginning he wanted to work for L&T, which was once called ‘not a public company or a private company but a National Sector Company working to build India’. Hence, Mr. Naik always works for the development of India.
Furthermore, Mr. Naik believes that everyone must work for society in some way. So he decided to choose education and healthcare to contribute, and announced that he would give 75% of his income to charitable causes over his lifetime, setting up the Naik Charitable Trust for education and the Nirali Memorial Medical Trust.
Affiliations and Accolades
Along with being the Group Executive Chairman of L&T, Mr. Naik plays many other significant roles which include Chairman of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad; Hon. Consul General of Denmark; Active member of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII); Co-Chairman of India-Russia CEOs Council, appointed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India; and Active member of Indo-Japanese Business Leadership Forum.
Mr. Naik is recognized by the entire world for his leadership. He has been bestowed several awards and titles, including the Padma Bhushan – one of the India’s highest civilian honors.
Significant honours he has received include the Gujarat Garima Award (Pride of Gujarat) presented by Mr. Narendra Modi, Asia Business Leader Award from CNBC Asia, Economic Times Business Leader of the Year Award and The Order of Dannebrog – Knight First Class.
Source :- The 30 Most Innovative Business Leaders