A. M. Naik

He has been instrumental in imparting a strong, nationalistic orientation to the company's products, offerings and capabilities, giving rise to its description as ‘the company that is building 21st Century India’.

He has retired from Larsen & Toubro Limited on 30 September 2023.

Anil Manibhai Naik (born 9 June 1942) is an Indian industrialist, philanthropist and the Chairman Emeritus of Larsen & Toubro Limited, an Indian engineering conglomerate, and a former Chairman of the National Skill Development Corporation.

In June 1958, Naik enrolled at V.P. Science College in Vallabh Vidyanagar, where he would prepare for a year for admission to an engineering college.

He graduated with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Birla Vishvakarma Mahavidyalaya Engineering college in Vallabh Vidyanagar in Gujarat.

After graduation, he went to Mumbai with a note from his father introducing him to Viren J. Shah (another HMPS alumnus) working in Mukand Iron & Steel Works Limited to apply for its engineering programme.

Due to his lack of proficiency in English, the personnel manager had asked him to improve his English.

So Naik started working on his English skills.

In the meantime, he joined Nestor Boilers, which was a Parsi-owned firm.

Changes in ownership and management style at Nestor Boilers prompted Naik to turn to L&T.

On 15 March 1965, Naik joined L&T, as a junior engineer.

A rapid rise followed.

He was appointed Assistant Manager within three years and 15 days of joining – a record at L&T.

In the late 1980s, L&T encountered a takeover attempt by a large business group (Reliance group) which seized a substantial stake in the company.

The management of L&T staunchly resisted these attempts to take over the company, wanting to maintain it as India's premier, indeed only, professionally run conglomerate.

The central government, through various agencies, public sector banks, insurance companies, etc., held a large portion of L&T's shareholding.

A succession of governments (as many as seven) held office during this period, but L&T's prestige and standing was such that none of them did anything to contravene the wishes of the board of professionals.

Finally, the predatory investor gave up and sought a settlement.

He was promoted as General Manager in 1986.

He became Member of board of L&T Limited on 23 November 1989.

In 1999, he took over as the chief executive officer and managing director.

In 2002, the predatory group's entire holding was transferred to a different family-owned business house (Birla group).

The following year, this shareholding was purchased by an "employee welfare trust" funded and controlled by L&T itself.

In this way, the company not only fended off the predator but also fortified its position as a professionally run company by gaining control of a large shareholding.

The way in which Naik thwarted the take-over and fortified L&T against such threats has been widely covered in the media.

The matter thus ended in a ‘win-win’, with all parties concerned being happy with the outcome.

S. Gurumurthy, currently on the Board of the Reserve Bank of India described the events as a ‘security threat for L&T being converted into a security ring.’ The Employee Stock Options which emanated from the successful resolution of the issue gave financial security to a large section of employees, and allowed them to share in the company's growth.

Naik's stewardship of L&T is characterised by a sharper focus on sectors of national significance - defence, nuclear, aerospace, infrastructure, oil & gas and power.

In 2003, he became the Chairman of Larsen & Toubro, the first employee in the company's history to be elevated to this post.

At the helm, Naik initiated the transformation process that made L&T into a more entrepreneurial organisation with increased emphasis on wealth creation for all stakeholders.

In an interview to McKinsey, Naik explained his reasons for the portfolio rationalisation that he undertook.

Naik is also the recipient of the 'Economic Times - Business Leader of the Year Award, for the year 2008.

Naik is a Gujarati.

He was born to a family of teachers in Gujarat, also referred to as Master Kutumb in Gujarati language.

His father, who used to teach at Hansraj Morarji Public School in Mumbai, heeded Mahatma Gandhi’s call to revitalise India's villages, and decided to return to his native village along with his family.

Young Anil had finished five years at his father's school by this time, and the rest of his schooling was obtained from schools in Endhal and the neighbouring village of Kharel.

He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's 3rd highest civilian award, in 2009.

In 2017, he stepped aside from executive responsibilities, and took over as Group Chairman.

In May 2023, Naik was appointed the Chairman Emeritus of the company.

In 2019, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's 2nd highest civilian award.