CEO Insights India

I want to tell you how much I enjoyed working with JENO maran Builders during the course of the project. Both the field force and management staff provided us with utmost professional experience and the project was completed within the schedule. The reason I am writing this testimony is, due to many compliments that I received on the building”, echoing her sentiments is Sasikala, a resident of Pondicherry and one of the happy customers of JENO maran Builders. In truth, such warm words are nothing new for the company; it rather is a proposition built with its unparalleled success in the industry over the last 30 years. The story of this unique construction concern that caters to both residential and commercial segments is also the story of S. Thangamanimaran (Founder & MD), whom customers fondly call as JENO maran ­ a reputation he built on the quality of the company's deliverables. CEO Insights is delighted to interview this exceptional leader, who walks us through his journey, the company's latest endeavors and more.

You have been leading the Construction industry for more than 32 years. What has been your inspiration behind the journey? What is the motivation that drives you today?
Creating new things has overjoyed me from my childhood. I always enjoyed activities such as building blocks and mud houses. As I grew up, the dreams became bigger and ideas became a motivating factor itself. Eventually, I wanted to implement my ideas and pave a path for myself.

What amazes me is the fact that there is always a need for sanctum. The industry is ever-evolving and there seems to be no end to the infrastructural developments, which motivated me to create landmarks that will stand the test of time.

JENO maran Builders is a leading company in the construction space in both Puducherry and Tamil Nadu. What was the idea behind its inception? Tell us about its unique services that make it different from others in the industry?
I was quite fascinated with the new concepts in civil engineering during college, and I wanted to implement such concepts and change the way companies design, plan, and execute projects. That's why I built this organization.

We specialize in French heritage building conservation and restoration, green building concepts, climatically designed buildings, energy conserving buildings, and large column free spans. It is our strong customer centric approach that helped us build a company with a strong customer base.

How has been your response to the

challenges posted by the pandemic and what new strategies did you adopt? How would you describe your role in tackling those challenges?
We had to rethink our priorities instantly once the epidemic set in. All ongoing projects were stopped, and there was a dip in the market demand. As there was difficulty in cash inflow, we had to strategize our financial planning to the best feasible options available to us. We managed to retain most of the workforce by taking up small and medium projects and also protected them under COVID protection policy. We also made sure not only that our staff are paid full salary, but also their yearly increments done on time.

As the MD, my hands were full with challenges from all sides. However, it was pivotal that I had to be resolute and steer the company to a profitable situation. Thankfully, I had a paramount team with me to take calculated risks and cut the company's losses.

In your professional journey so far, which are the milestones that bestowed you with utmost satisfaction ­ both as an individual and as an entrepreneur?
Getting myself renamed from Thangamani maran to Jeno maran by customers and business associates speaks loudly of my professional success. It gave me immense pride as an entrepreneur when we were recognized as one of the best promoters in Puducherry on the inception of apartment promotions. On a personal level, I have planted and nurtured more than 2,00,000 trees in and around Pondicherry which bestows me with enormous contentment on giving back to mother nature.

What is the road map that you have planned for JENO maran Builders?
I foresee the current niche opportunities in our country to be implemented in mainstream construction with more post-tensioned long span buildings, precast structures, and the introduction of 3D printed buildings. There will be more focus on technology integration, sustain ability, safety protocols, material costs and alternate material sourcing.

For over two decades, we have set the roadmap by focusing on sustainable infrastructural projects and green buildings. We foresee that our technical exposure and knowhow will help us to grow in this space. We are presently making advancements to our company's capability to accommodate newer construction methodo logies through automation, while also focusing on driving the workforce to a safer work space to takeup more

large scale institutional and industrial construction projects.

Having spent so many years in this profession, what advice would you give to the upcoming leaders in this industry?
Be passionate in your profession and maintain professional integrity with all your customers while also taking ownership of each project you do, it helps you to create a brand and earn customer trust.

Also,learning is a life long process. You need to make sure that you leverage every possible learning opportunity.Contributing back to society by helping the needy and protecting the mother earth will provide you with an extra sense of happiness as well.

Thangamanimaran,Founder & MD, JENO maran Builders
S.Thangamanimaran completed his B.E, in flying colors and coveted many memberships and titles in his professional journey. He is happily married to Usha, a Gold medallist in B.E Civil Engineering from Madras University and blessed with two children ­ Aarthi @ Maniammai (a Gold Medalist in B.Tech Civil Engineering from Pondicherry University and MS Civil Engineering from National University of Singapore) and Dhileepan (a Batch Topper in M.Sc Software Systems from Coimbatore Institute of Technology). Usha is the Joint Managing Director of JENO maran Builders. Aarthi is the Director of JENO maran Builders. She has taken up this role recently, after working for six years in Land Transport Authority in Singapore.

Some of his prestigious titles include:
•Registered Valuer­ Insolvency & Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI)
•Approved Valuer Income Tax Department & Banks
•Member of Institute of Engineers
•Fellow of Institute of Valuers
•Registered Engineer in Pondicherry Planning Authority
•Registered Structural Engineer in Pondicherry Planning Authority
•Member of Indian Green Building Council (IGBC)
•Fellow of Society of Energy Engineers & Managers (SEEM)

•Hobbies: Listening to music, reading books, gardening & nurturing trees
•Favorite Cuisine: South Indian, especially seafood
•Favorite Book: Thirukural, PenYen Adimaiyanal?, Inivarum Ulagam and Sindhu Samaveli Panpaattin Dravida Adithalam
•Favorite Travel Destination: Northeastern India, Bhutan & Vietnam

Awards & Recognition:
•Heritage Conservation Works Award for Renovation & Re-Construction work at Eswaran Koil Street, Puducherry by the French Consulate in 2001
•BID Award – World Quality Commitment international star award - Paris 2013
•ICI Award for Outstanding Concrete Structure for the years 2013, 2014, 2017 & 2018
•Award for Tree growing activity from Puduvai Thirukural Mandram, from then, Chief Minister of PuducherryThiru. Naryanasamy and many other NGOs