THE CONSCIOUS LEADER

Eram Group is thecontrolling entity of anumber of leadingbusinesses inindustrial contracting,project management,automotive,healthcare, travel, IT,manufacturing,trading, productrepresentation andother service sectors.

ram Group, a leading businessconglomerate with a well entrenchedbusiness presence across continents,was founded in the mid-80s.Headquartered in Al-Khobar in SaudiArabia, the group employs more than9,000 people. Over the years, Eram

has achieved an enviable position of market leadershipacross multiple business lines. The Group is backed byhighly specialised infrastructure and enviable talent, asit conducts viable business activities in the vibrantglobal market.

Today, Eram Group is the controlling entity of a

As a globe-trotting leader,heading diversified enterprises,it is not just the bottomline thatdrives Dr Siddeek Ahmed, theleading light of the businessconglomerate, Eram Group.While steering more than 40entities, spread across 12countries, he is equallypassionate about his socialcommitments and drives themwith great fervour, to make theearth a better place for all.

Dr Siddeek Ahmed

Chairman and Managing Director,

Eram Group

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number of leading businesses in industrialcontracting, project management, automotive,healthcare, travel, IT, manufacturing, trading, productrepresentation and other service sectors. The Grouphas presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, UnitedArab Emirates, India, Kingdom of Bahrain, Qatar,Kuwait, United Kingdom, Italy, Korea, Malaysia and Turkey.

Eram Group invests in businesses that have highgrowth potential and scalability in terms oftechnology and manpower and have direct bearingon transforming the social realities to impact thecommon man’s life.

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Siddeek’s local and global experiencegives him a multifoldperspective that lends prudence and pragmatism to everything he undertakes.

Dr Siddeek Ahmed, thevisionary leader of the EramGroup, has over 25 years ofexperience in business andcontractual activities and hasalways encouraged excellence invaried enterprises like services,research and development,manufacturing, trading andindustrial contracting. His localand global experience gives hima multifold perspective thatlends prudence and pragmatismto everything he undertakes.

Hailing from a small village inthe Palakkad district of Kerala,Siddeek was passionate aboutentrepreneurship, from a youngage.It took him to Mumbai

where he learned the nuancesof business. “I received my firstlessons in business from myelder brother who was inMumbai. He taught me thebasics of marketing, peoplemanagement and networking,”says Siddeek.

“My time in Mumbai taughtme that a simple smile can healand nourish everything ittouches. I could spread joy byjust listening to people. I alsorealised that if we give a smilewe would get it back inmultiples. These learningshelped a lot in grooming thebusinessman in me,” explainsSiddeek about his early years.

Learning the basics

Siddeek is an expert in directing,managing anddealing with complexbusiness models and initiatives.

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My trip to Switzerland. Itis an awesome land and Iwould like to visit it again.

My Journey: TransformingDreams into Actions by Dr AP J Abdul Kalam. The warmthof love and affection are mylearnings from it.

I relish traditionalKerala preparations.

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I am comfortablein casual wear,preferably Jeansand a T-shirt.

Equipped with such knowledge, he left for SaudiArabia and joined an organisation as their marketingmanager. Though Siddeek had tried his hand at severalbusinesses in Kerala, his real stint as a businessmanstarted in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Dammam is knownfor oil and gas related industries, where manymultinational oil companies have strong presence. Hestarted an organisation that offers complete projectmanagement solutions including handling humanresources for oil and gas industries in Dammam. “Myinitial challenge was to get registered and to conductbusiness with these multinational companies. Theywere focused on quality of work, workmanship, safety,project schedule and timely completion. It was equallychallenging to identify the right partner andmanagement team,” Siddeek details the initial hiccups.

However, he could find a way out and Siddeekstrongly believes that it was by the grace of god hewas able to engage in business associations with theright partners. “With the support of my family I was

able to source initial capital for my first business and Iinvested the profit from this in other businesses. Thus,the organisation started expanding. I had also investedin human capital; in fact I would say it was my firstcapital,” he shares.

Siddeek believes in team work. “In my business,major contributing factors are my team members. I amsurrounded by dedicated, trustworthy and competentpeople who can take up any assignment and areproficient enough to accomplish them in the way thecompany desires. For any business developmentactivities, I always discuss with the core team andanalyse positive and negative aspects,” he shares hisstrategies. “Dedication and hardwork to achievedesired goals, transparency in the work we do, are ourstrengths. Whether it is worth US$ 100 million or onemillion, it will be executed on time with totalcommitment and quality. Also, I learned that utilisingthe right human resources at the right place is the keyto the success of any organisation,” Siddeek shares hiskey learnings from his experiences.

Capital moves

After finding success in his initial venture, Siddeekadopted a different strategy in business. “My focus was toexpand my business horizontally rather than giving primaryfocus on vertical growth. Later, in the second phase, I tookthe route of vertical growth. The strategy worked andnow all my business units are profit-making centres,” henarrates. “I used to take care to invest in human capitaland evaluated growth not just in terms of turnover, butalso in the number of employees and their dependents,”he adds.

As a business leader handling diverse portfolios,Siddeek believes in team work. He is an expert indirecting, managing and dealing with complex businessmodels and initiatives. He possesses a strong and tangibleset of skills which have not only enabled him to sustainthe company he runs today, but also drive his teams tomirror the same qualities in their performance. “Whetherit is small or big, simple or complicated, every workundertaken by us is performed, with total commitment,”this, he believes, makes the Group stand out from the clutter.

Siddeek meets with customers and articulates customerneeds, challenges and business goals. The way he pitchesand closes a deal is a learning for others to emulate. Heconstantly reinvents himself and is always tuned to theever evolving market scenario.

Though he is heading several ventures which areheadquartered outside India, he is passionate about hishomeland, Kerala. He is actively involved in severalprojects and initiatives in the state. He is the director ofKerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC),Infrastructure Kerala Ltd. (INKEL), Cheraman FinancialServices Ltd. (CFSL) and so on and plays an active role intaking these organisations to newer heights.

Along with steering his business empire, Siddeek ispassionate about his social and philanthropic activities. Hesupports several charities in partnership with governments,trusts, NGOs and individuals, besides running his ownprojects. “Serving the needy and contributing to society is

something I have imbibed from my parents. They werevery generous and kind towards the needy. I grew upseeing their passionate service. So commitment to thesociety is an important part of my life,” he shares.

Siddeek is associated with the AH Foundation, acharitable trust established in Kerala with the objective ofempowering those who are socially and financiallydestitute. He is also the chief patron of We CareAssociation, a charitable initiative started to help theneedy in the Middle East and in India. The Eram Groupalso offers financial assistance to several institutionsincluding the Regional Cancer Centre,Thiruvananthapuram, for its charity initiatives, and DayaRehabilitation Trust, Vadakara, for providing food andmedicine for cancer patients. Eram Group also offersfinancial support to organisations such as Lions Club,Rotary Club and to blood donation camps undertaken inassociation with King Fahd Specialist Hospital, Dammam,KSA, and many others.

Eram Scientific Solutions Pvt. Ltd., a technologyresearch and development firm under the leadership ofSiddeek, has been recognised for its work in the field ofcommunity hygiene and sanitation. The firm aims toredefine the public sanitation landscape through e-toilets.Recently, the company received the Bill and Melinda GatesFoundation Grant worth ` 3 crore for its ‘Reinvent theToilet Challenge’ campaign. This grant will be utilised forconducting research on maintaining toilet hygiene,ensuring non-depletion of water resources and energyconservation solutions.

For Siddeek, charity does not end with funding of socialinitiatives. He also supports businesses and entrepreneurswho can make a positive impact on people’s lives andselflessly cater to the needs of the society at large.Recognising his social and philanthropic activities andbusiness excellence, he was conferred with honorarydoctorates from both, regional and foreign universities.This has inspired and motivated him to keep themomentum going and aim for bigger deeds.

Person par excellenceSiddeek has won several awards andaccolades for his stellar performance asa business leader. These include ‘NRIBusinessman of the Year Award’ foroutstanding contributions fromDhanam business magazine; Bravery &Entrepreneur Award for the mostdiversified conglomerate and TopEntrepreneur of India 2015; KesariSmaraka Journalist Trust Award 2015;Global Business Excellence Award 2015;Keraleeyam Business Excellence Award,by Global Kerala Initiative; Malabar FestAward in 2013 for excellence inBusiness and Social commitmentinstituted by Malabar Cultural Centre;International Human Rights Award;SION Award in 2012 by SION Media,Kuwait, for Excellence in the Field ofBusiness and Charitable Services;Business Excellence Award in 2012,from WMC in Dallas, Texas and manymore. He was ranked 16th in the TopIndian Business Leader in Arab World2015, by Forbes Middle East.

He is also a member of the WorldEconomic Forum (WEF) and anhonorary member of Gandhi SquareTrust, Florida, USA. He is also thechairman of Palakkad Business Group(PBG) in UAE.

Siddeek is deeply inspired by hisfather. “He was a true humanitarian,

more than a businessman. I havelearned business ethics and values frommy uppa and umma. The greatindustrialist Ratan Tata is also one of myrole models in business,” he informs.His family is actively involved in thebusiness. “My wife Nushaiba looks aftermy personal investments and monitorsand comments on my businessdecisions. My son Rizwan Ahmed anddaughter Rizana Mariyam and even myyounger child Rizwi Mariyam engage inhealthy criticism which, in fact, helpsme make appropriate changes in mydecisions. Nushaiba and Rizwan are onthe boards of many firms of EramGroup,” he adds.

For Siddeek, family is the biggestsupport and a space to relax andrejuvenate in, when under tremendouswork pressure. “Whenever I wish torelax, I will keep myself away from allelectronic devices, including television,and spend time with my family. Aftersome time, I feel recharged andenergised,” he concludes.

As a conscious leader Siddeek makesa positive impact on the culture of hisorganisation by establishing the rightfundamentals and values. He is alsoable to influence and inspire his teamand several others to bring aboutdrastic transformation in society.

For Siddeek, charitydoes not end withfunding of socialinitiatives. He alsosupports businessesand entrepreneurswho can make apositive impact onpeople’s lives andselflessly cater tothe needs of thesociety at large.

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Though he is heading several ventureswhich are headquartered outside India,he is passionate about his homeland,Kerala. He is actively involved in severalprojects and initiatives in the state.