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Making a difference has always been the goal for Anand Srinivasan. When he returned to India from the United States 15 years ago, his sights were firmly set on working his way to the top of a company – not just to fulfill his professional ambitions within the chemicals industry, but also because he wanted to make sure that he put India on the map.
Now, he is doing exactly that in his dual role as Head of Polycarbonates for the Indian Subcontinent and Managing Director of Covestro (India).
“Today, the entire country is lit up by Covestro. We’re the pioneers of LED.”
“I wanted to give something back to the industry and the country, and this role helps me do that – from corporate social responsibility activities, reaching out to associations and working with institutions to help promote science,” he tells The CEO Magazine.
“All of this happens at a very ground level, which I wouldn’t be able to do in the United States. So I’m happy that I can make that difference here – and that’s what’s been driving me.”
It’s a purpose that permeates his day-to-day routine, with Srinivasan taking the time to mentor young people, encouraging them to pursue careers in science, while also looking at ways that Covestro (India) can help propel India forward.
As a leading supplier of high-tech polymer materials and the inventor of polycarbonates and polyurethanes, the company is perfectly positioned to be a driving force within the industry.
Realizing that India didn’t have a structured approach to emergency response for accidents on the road during the transportation of chemicals, Srinivasan, along with a few chemical firms, set about creating a solution. With the cooperation of the Indian Chemical Council, he founded a new concept called NICERGLOBE.
“It was an initiative where we brought companies together and, of course, Covestro and some of our companies really came on board where we, as a team, were able to drive this,” he says.
“Today, the industry is using this whole platform where – if there’s a chemical spill or accident – there is someone to call for help, and experts will be there or give you a plan in terms of how to handle this.
“So this is a very different type of concept, which didn’t exist, and today I’m happy it does. It’s just helping the community and helping the industry.”
The Indian outpost of the German-founded company was first established in 1988 when it opened its first facility at Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu. Since then, it has expanded to include two more sites across the country with newer facilities now located in Ankleshwar and Greater Noida.
“When you invest in a country, you need to make sure that the assets are utilized,” Srinivasan says.
“So the moment I took over this role, I wanted to make sure that all my investments in India are full. Today, I’m happy to say all of them are full, and we are looking at the future now – what do we do next?”
For Srinivasan, Covestro (India)’s leadership position within the market provides the perfect platform to bring additional innovation to India.
“We’re not just a company to supply polymers and go away,” he stresses. “It’s about bringing technology – what you see in the West, in China, why not in India?”
Covestro (India) already sees great potential within the Indian market, forecasting it to grow faster than others around the world.
“India is ready for it. It’s actually leaped off quite a bit,” he says.
“Today, the entire country is lit up by Covestro. We’re the pioneers of LED and more than 70 percent of LED bulbs or lighting in the country are Covestro material. Today we are more than 50 percent into 5G.”
The company is also driving exciting changes in the meter industry, ensuring that utilities such as water, power and heat are monitored – a relative novelty in India.
“Now we are looking at what’s next – AI or drones? What is the next technology? Is it healthcare? Is it automotive? Where can we help to bring new technology to India? And that’s where I see a very clear path for the next three-to-five years,” he reveals.
Transformation is the name of the game for Srinivasan, although it’s a vision that begins with mindset.
“That’s where the Managing Director role fits in, where the convincing has to happen to every single employee,” he explains.
“The world is going to change and we have to adapt. We have to accept it and quickly become agile. If we’re not, then we are out of the game. You snooze, you lose.”
Dedicating the lion’s share of his energy to this mission, he’s already made major strides, reaching out to people within the organization to drive cultural change.
“If we are not preparing for tomorrow or the future, then we fail to exist.”
But how does he measure his success? It comes back to key performance indicators, but Srinivasan takes a somewhat different approach to these, turning the lens on others within the company rather than himself.
“Every three months, I evaluate myself, not to see what I have done, but to see how many people around me have grown,” he points out.
“That’s my self-indicator – to see if my team members or employees in the company have grown, gone to the next level or improved in their knowledge or just matured.”
With Srinivasan highlighting Covestro (India)’s people as the company’s main asset, he knows only too well that he has to ensure it has access to an abundant talent pool if the business is to thrive into the future, and this is key to its ability to make a difference.
“If we are not preparing for tomorrow or the future, then we fail to exist,” he reflects. “So we’re looking at what’s new, how can we shape the future and what can we do for tomorrow.”
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