Gen-Next

Country roads take me home

Privileged to be the youngest ever chief executive officer of an Indian listed company, Siddharth Reddy, CEO and joint managing director of Country Club India, tracks his growth with the company in conversation with Priya Krishnaswamy

Clubs serve multiple purposes. For a few it is a place to relax - a home away from home. For others it is their veritable home. Deputed at one of the most senior positions in the company, Siddharth Reddy, CEO and joint managing director of Country Club India (CCIL), says, "I was born into this industry. I think the first word I must have said might have been 'club'. I grew up to understand that I could excel in no other place but in my own company and that is what has happened."

Reddy got all the support and freedom that he needed from his parents to pursue his interests. But when he was pursuing engineering in the United States, his inclination towards business curbed his engineering capabilities. "That was when I moved to business, which was a natural choice for me and did a major in marketing from Pennsylvania State University," he adds. He then went on to complete his Bachelors in Business Administration from the University of Texas, Austin. That's where the CEO was born.

Reddy claims to have taken to business in the truest sense when he was at Harvard. "Being in one of the world's top five business schools, I had the opportunity to interact with the finest people. That is when I started visualising myself as part of CCIL. It was the deciding factor for me," he says.

The grand welcome

When Reddy returned home after completing his education, his father, Y Rajeev Reddy, chairman and managing director of CCIL, entrusted him with the responsibilities of the brand. In fact, junior Reddy took this offer so seriously that he joined the company the very day he came home. "It has been over 15 months now and I now understand the importance of hard work and determination. To make a difference, you need to think differently and work really hard," he quips.

When Reddy took over the reins of the Rs 500-crore CCIL, he realised that the brand was larger than the product itself and he took upon himself to implement all the ideas that were in pipeline. Building the franchisee network was the first step. In a record time of three months, he built a national team and established about 25 franchisees in India and internationally. When asked about its presence outside India, Reddy says, "As an extension of branding, CCIL moved to foreign countries. Our Sri Lanka property is a major hit because we are now talking of a time when the spending power is far more higher than what it used to be and the concept of clubbing is becoming popular. In addition to Japan and Sri Lanka, we are looking at every country where there is significant Indian diaspora."

The youngster stresses, "The advantage of dreaming big when you are young is that you end up realising your dream. Everything is possible and I believe in pursuing what I want to achieve."

CCIL today has diversified its portfolio by making its presence in the field of recreation. Country Club Silver Storm (a water theme park), Country Club Minar de Lake (houseboats), and Country Club Crystal Courts (a golf village) bears testimonies to Reddy's unending surge of energy. "Of course, it is a team effort. I cannot overlook the support of our team," says Reddy.

Realising his strengths and appreciating the small joys of life, the energetic 'clubber' says, "I am thankful to God for everything - for being able to study abroad that helped me gain perspectives, I am thankful for every single day and if God tells me that I have to disown everything tomorrow, I'll only thank Him. It is the drive to accomplish that keeps me moving ahead."