Sunil Nair : Pioneering Financial Strategies Through Risk Mitigation And Global Market Insight
Sunil Nair
Head of Treasury
Sunil Nair, the Head of Treasury for Aliaxis-Ashirvad Group in India, exemplifies strategic leadership in the complex realm of global finance. With over 30 years of treasury expertise, Sunil’s journey began with an MBA in Finance and Marketing and a Master’s in Commerce from the University of Kerala. Though he initially pursued ICWA in Bangalore, an appointment from Godrej Agrovet led him to embark on an impressive career in finance. His career spans significant roles, including nearly two decades with the Leela Group across various cities in India, and later with Blackstone India, where he played a key role in managing Gokaldas Finance portfolio.
Since joining Aliaxis in 2018, Sunil has overseen treasury operations for the company's expansive Indian division, contributing around 12 percent to Aliaxis' global business. He has driven key transformations, from fully automating banking systems to establishing robust policies in Supply chain finance.
In a recent interview with CEO Insights magazine, Sunil shared their strategies, future roadmap, and vision for the company. Let's read about it.
How do you plan to leverage your extensive experience to further en- hance the profile of Aliaxis - Ashirvad Pipes?
Having worked in finance and supply chain management for more than thirty years, I think my background has prepared me to make a significant contribution to Aliaxis-Ashirvad Pipes' expan- sion. I have developed a deep understanding of the nuances involved by navigating issues in supply chain financing, vendor programs, and currency risk
management across multiple sectors. For example, I was able to quickly engage stakeholders and efficiently prioritize tasks during the implementation of Supply chain financing for distributors and the C2FO Vendor Financing Program, which allowed us to finish the setup in record time.
Experience taught me to prioritize without waiting for external guidance, so I responded quickly to risk mitigation techniques such as forward booking and hedging in the wake of geopolitical changes. I want to use this strategy at Aliaxis to improve our customer relationships, expedite supply chain finance, and detect possible problems early.
What key factors do you consider when assessing the profitability of an invest-
ment?
Understanding and controlling risk is my top focus when determining the profitability of an investment. Whether it's a fixed-income instrument, bank deposit, or debt fund, I begin by examining the possible investment's rating and overall financial condition. I find that a certain amount of assurance is provided by high ratings and sound finan-cials, especially when making significant inv- estments.
In addition to ratings, I carefully consider the institution's market position, projected growth, and balance sheet. In addition to providing high returns, I think the investment must align with our long-term goals and general risk tolerance. For instance, I would place stability and risk management above possible short-term advantages.
How would you describe your unique leadership ap- proach and how it impacts your team's performance?
My leadership style is based on servant leadership, in which everyone participates in decision-making and shares duties. I think my team should be empowered, with each member receiving the trust and encouragement they require to succeed. Rather than giving orders from the top down, we have open discussions to align goals. This method produces effective, superior results while also enhancing team cohesion.
Experience taught me to prioritize without waiting for external guidance, so I responded quickly to risk mitigation techniques such as forward booking and hedging in the wake of geopolitical changes. I want to use this strategy at Aliaxis to improve our customer relationships, expedite supply chain finance, and detect possible problems early.
I want to promote a culture of agility and strategic foresight by working closely with teams and being trans - parent about goals
What key factors do you consider when assessing the profitability of an invest-
ment?
Understanding and controlling risk is my top focus when determining the profitability of an investment. Whether it's a fixed-income instrument, bank deposit, or debt fund, I begin by examining the possible investment's rating and overall financial condition. I find that a certain amount of assurance is provided by high ratings and sound finan-cials, especially when making significant inv- estments.
In addition to ratings, I carefully consider the institution's market position, projected growth, and balance sheet. In addition to providing high returns, I think the investment must align with our long-term goals and general risk tolerance. For instance, I would place stability and risk management above possible short-term advantages.
How would you describe your unique leadership ap- proach and how it impacts your team's performance?
My leadership style is based on servant leadership, in which everyone participates in decision-making and shares duties. I think my team should be empowered, with each member receiving the trust and encouragement they require to succeed. Rather than giving orders from the top down, we have open discussions to align goals. This method produces effective, superior results while also enhancing team cohesion.
I also believe that skill dev- elopment and ongoing education are important for success. I am myself enrolled in the Harvard/S P Jain course to stay up to date and provide my team with new perspectives.
Could you share any new financial strategies or the roadmap you have planned for the organization's fin- ancial growth?
We had a global treasury and finance meeting in Brussels, wherein, we drafted a financial roadmap that is built on a clear and collaborative strategy. We developed a long term plan, beginning with a focused three-year phase, to support our global vision and regional priorities.
As part of the global finance team, I comprehend and analyze the Asian and Indian market trends to provide the best treasury strategies. This helps us to differentiate between essential and non-essential treasury str- ategies and ensure efficient resource allocation. In the future, we aim to improve this roadmap by remaining adaptable to changes in the industry for long-term financial success.
What advice would you offer to emerging financial leaders in the industry?
Trust is the cornerstone upon which relationships are garnered in the finance industry. Therefore, it is crucial to hold one's values and principles even in the most trying situations to establish and grow trust with clients, colleagues, and other stakeholders. This will allow you to succeed irrespective of your industry and department.
Sunil Nair, Head of Trea- sury, Aliaxis - Ashirvad Pipe
Sunil Nair holds an MBA in Finance and Marketing and a Master’s in Commerce from the University of Kerala. With over 30 years of experience across notable organizations such as Godrej , the Leela Group, and Blackstone India, Sunil has excelled in strategic treasury management, automation, and supply chain financing, con- tributing significantly to Aliaxis' Treasury activities in India.
•Hobbies: Reading, Updates on daily economic and political news.
•Favorite Cui- sine: Chinese, Italian.
•Fa- vorite Book: “Start With Why” by Simon Sinek, ”I Do what I do” by Raghuram Rajan
•Favorite Travel Destination:
Kashmir, Middle East, Europe.
Could you share any new financial strategies or the roadmap you have planned for the organization's fin- ancial growth?
We had a global treasury and finance meeting in Brussels, wherein, we drafted a financial roadmap that is built on a clear and collaborative strategy. We developed a long term plan, beginning with a focused three-year phase, to support our global vision and regional priorities.
As part of the global finance team, I comprehend and analyze the Asian and Indian market trends to provide the best treasury strategies. This helps us to differentiate between essential and non-essential treasury str- ategies and ensure efficient resource allocation. In the future, we aim to improve this roadmap by remaining adaptable to changes in the industry for long-term financial success.
What advice would you offer to emerging financial leaders in the industry?
Trust is the cornerstone upon which relationships are garnered in the finance industry. Therefore, it is crucial to hold one's values and principles even in the most trying situations to establish and grow trust with clients, colleagues, and other stakeholders. This will allow you to succeed irrespective of your industry and department.
Sunil Nair, Head of Trea- sury, Aliaxis - Ashirvad Pipe
Sunil Nair holds an MBA in Finance and Marketing and a Master’s in Commerce from the University of Kerala. With over 30 years of experience across notable organizations such as Godrej , the Leela Group, and Blackstone India, Sunil has excelled in strategic treasury management, automation, and supply chain financing, con- tributing significantly to Aliaxis' Treasury activities in India.
•Hobbies: Reading, Updates on daily economic and political news.
•Favorite Cui- sine: Chinese, Italian.
•Fa- vorite Book: “Start With Why” by Simon Sinek, ”I Do what I do” by Raghuram Rajan
•Favorite Travel Destination:
Kashmir, Middle East, Europe.