Though as part of my profession, I run into scores of practitioners – both owner-promoters and professionals – almost on a daily basis, very few impress the most. Even if the meeting is only once, the image and the interaction remains etched forever. If that person happens to be bereft of arrogance and full of wisdom and willing to share with no compunction and treats the other person with respect, the pleasure for a journalist multiplies several fold.
Soman Nambiar, ex-Ceva Logistics top honcho, is one such personality. I had met him last July a few weeks before he bid goodbye to a full time career and moved out of Gurgaon to settle down in Bangalore to pursue his new found passion: to assist his better half’s NGO aptly named ActionAid. Before one jumps to conclusion that is finito for his 35-long arduous career in logistics and supply chain, the bearded Soman has not hung up his boots. However, he is not looking for a full time re-entry, but mentoring and Board level representations he is not averse to.
During my recent sojourn through Bangalore to understand the logistical challenges of heavy commercial vehicles passing through several states, I called him up to seek a meeting. His okay came within no time. He chose Sunday – the day of Sabbath – to catch up. He chose the venue of KSCA Stadium Club where he is a member for over 25 years. Remember that he was returning from a short vaction from Thekkady that morning with his spouse and could have opted out of the committed meeting.
On the morning of meeting, he confirmed the meeting. Like an excited child anticipating the arrival of the uncle from abroad with goodies – because he has never disappointed in the past – I cancelled few other not-so-important engagements and stepped into the KSCA Stadium Club sharply at 1 p.m. for an encounter with the one and only Soman. How much he would have changed post-retirement? Has he shaved his trade mark flowing beard? Has he thinned out? Not that he was too bulky. Will he speak up his mind – like he did last time? This worry came because I was unsure whether he was truly given up a full time career and wondered whether he was still nursing hopes of staging a comeback with a new outfit in the segment. If so, Soman would be diplomatic and would not like to speak his mind on others. Understandable.
“Arrived. At the Parking”, flashed the message on my Blackberry a few minutes before 2 p.m. Yes, he was late by 30 minutes from the appointed hour. It was a pleasant surprise to see him in flowery beach shirt and thank God, his beard was in tact. He apologized for the late arrival and then hugged. No formal handshakes. Mind you, this was my second meeting over the past year, though we keep exchanging messages and talk occasionally over phone.
The KSCA Stadium Club was crowded , but not packed to the brim on the Sunday afternoon. We debated over whether we should occupy the high stools at the bar or opt for a conventional table for two and settled down on the latter. Having placed the order for beer for me and vodka for him – and chicken tikka for him and paneer tikka for me – we are ready for the dialogue over the next three hours.
He was gentleman to the core. Never took a phone call during the interaction, though his Blackberry kept buzzing at regular intervals. Never once did he glance at his handset. Never once did he say that he was tired and wanting to cut short the meet and return home for rest. Never once did he hesitate to give his opinion in various issues: about the caliber of professionals at various MNCs operating in the logistics and supply chain sphere in India. Whom he rates as the most dynamic and innovative domestic player and why? Whom all he wooed as Ceva Logistics head honcho and why those overtures did not materialize? Why China would always score over India in manufacturing sector – the backbone of logistics and supply chain service providers? What’s wrong with our policy framework?
Was he upset when the new owners at Ceva Logistics told him that he need to go because they want to bring in an expat as the new honcho? Post-Ceva Logistics, what is he upto? Any chance of him coming back in full gear? Well, my quiver of questions was unstoppable. He batted like Chris Gayle of Royal Challenger Bangalore: full of vigour and aggression. Apt perhaps we were swigging our vodka and beer from our respective receptacles in the headquarters of RCB and a few hundred metres away from the pitch that witnessed many battles – at various levels such as Tests, ODIs and IPL.
Soman was in great mood. I was getting late for my next appointment at another part of town. Otherwise I would have jolly well kept on listening to the pearls of wisdom from this hardcore professional (see his profile which I did last year in a separate blogposting).
He quietly signed the bill, left a huge tip for the waiter, spoke to them in muttering Kannada, Hindi and English in between and walked me down to the KSCA Stadium gate.
Never once did he tell me any remark of his were “off the record”. True professional. He knows his onions. What more to say?
Well, what did he say? You wonder.
I can understand your curiosity. I will let the cat out of the bag soon.
Just for starters, here is something to mull over:
“MNC bosses operating in this sphere look at India posting as a job with a lot of perks. Not enthusiastic to push hard”
“Mahendra Agarwal (of Gati) is the only visionary in this segment.”
By the by, here is one more interesting nugget of information that may interest you:
Do you know Soman Nambiar applied for and got a Driving Licence for Heavy Commercial Vehicle? And do you know that he literally DROVE a truck loaded with goods from Vijayawada to Mumbai several years ago to understand the challenges of plying on Indian roads first hand?
Ciao.
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