The 60-year-old Ashok Leyland Ltd. of the Hinduja Group has several notable achievements to its credit, including consistent profit-making right from inception and good dividend payment year after year.
Addressing the CEO Conclave – L’ATTITUDE organized by Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, Mr. R. Seshasayee, Managing Director, Ashok Leyland, said his company has been quite successful in meeting the expectations of all those concerned with its working, especially its customers and shareholders.
In his long association of 30 years with the company, he has learnt a lot, the most significant being how a leader or CEO of a company has to be compulsorily ‘visible’ and could spread good ideas among the management staff, particularly during crises. During the period, he had to face recession on four different occasions. All that could be easily tackled by his meeting the key employees at the shop-floor level, explaining the difficulties faced and seeking their co-operation to find a way out of the crisis.
This, according to him, could be termed effective connectivity that plays a major role in tackling serious issues facing corporates. The recent terrorist violence in Mumbai and its aftermath is a classic example of how people in different walks of life come together during crises.
Mr. Seshasayee particularly referred to the recessionary phase of 1977-78 when, as part of AL’s austerity drive, he used to travel by night bus from Chennai to Hosur. While he was delighted to have such experience, he could also enjoy the comfort of the ride by the company buses. This also gave him the additional satisfaction of saving for the company. The main focus while facing low profitability should be on reduced activities to sustain profit.
He also observed that it is quite essential during such emergencies to find a ready strategy for enhancing the company competitiveness, particularly through improvement in product quality and innovative approach. His growing company has the additional advantage of keeping several young and talented people.
In conclusion, Mr. Seshasayee pointed out that he used to be particularly encouraged while attending sessions in which the youth is involved. The day’s session looked really surcharged with the presence of a lot of enterprising MBA students.
Earlier Mr. Seshasayee was introduced by the organiser as a most successful man capable of delivering solutions to difficult corporate problems. Under his expert stewardship, Ashok Leyland’s turnover has grown from Rs. 2,045 crores to Rs. 8,305 crores in the past decade.
