Anil Manibhai Naik

Naik is a Gujarati.[10] He was born to a family of teachers in Gujarat, also referred to as Master Kutumb in Gujarati language.[11][6] His father, who used to teach at a 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.[12] Young Anil's early schooling therefore was in Endhal and the neighbouring village of Kharel.[13] 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.[14]

He graduated with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Birla Vishvakarma Mahavidyalaya Engineering college in Vallabh Vidyanagar in Gujarat.[15]

Young Anil with parents and sisters

After graduation, he went to Mumbai with a note from his father introducing him to Viren J. Shah 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.[16] 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.[17] A rapid rise followed. He was appointed Assistant Manager within three years and 15 days of joining – a record at L&T.[18] 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 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.[19] In 2017, he stepped aside from executive responsibilities, and took over as Group Chairman.[20]

Mr. A.M.Naik at L&T's Heavy Engineering workshop.

In 2018, the Government of India appointed Naik the Chairman of the National Skill Development Corporation – the apex body to promote skilling and part of the Skill India mission of the Prime Minister.[28] Making the announcement, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said under Naik's leadership, the corporation apart from its engagement in executing skilling modules, should also be a think-tank providing direction and necessary guidance for creating a demand-based skilling ecosystem in the country.[29] Naik said NSDC has developed a unique model combining skill development with strong industry partnerships. NSDC, under the ministry, aims to promote skill development by catalysing creation of large, quality and for-profit vocational institutions. The organisation provides funding to build scalable and profitable vocational training initiatives. 

In his personal capacity, Naik is a philanthropist who is committed to securing positive outcomes on his initiatives in healthcare, education and skill-building.[30] In August 2016, Naik announced that he would give 75% of his income to charitable causes over his lifetime, setting up the Naik Charitable Trust for education and the Nirali Memorial Medical Trust for healthcare.[31]

Nirali Memorial Medical Trust had entered into an agreement to set up a Cancer Hospital at Navsari which will be operated by Tata Trusts.[32][33] In January 2019, the Prime Minister of India laid the foundation stone for the Cancer hospital in Navsari, Gujarat.[34][35] The healthcare campus at Navsari will also house a speciality hospital for which the NMMT has tied up with the Apollo Hospitals Group.[36] NMMT also runs Nirali Memorial Radiation Centre in nearby Surat, a multi-disciplinary hospital at Powai in Mumbai and provides modern medical facilities at a hospital at Kharel, Gujarat.[36]

• Honorary Consul General for Denmark.[73]
• Senior member of the Confederation of Indian Industry.
• Member of the Board of Trade, Ministry of Commerce, Government of India.
• Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineers.
• Former Member of the Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.[74]
• Nominated as the Chairman of the IIMA (IIM Ahmedabad) Society and the Board of Governors, for a period of three years starting 28 March 2012[75]
• Conferred ‘Doctor of Letters’ (Honoris Causa) by the Sardar Patel University on 15 December 2011[76]
• Conferred Doctor of Philosophy from Gujarat Technological University on 19 January 2013[77]
• Conferred Doctor of Letters from Veer Narmad University of South Gujarat on 26 February 2016[78]
• Conferred Doctor of Science from Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in December 2016[79]

A.M. Naik is married to Geeta Naik. They have two children.[80]

‘The Nationalist – How A.M. Naik Transformed L&T into a Global Powerhouse’, by Minhaz Merchant and published by Harper Collins.[81][82]

'Strategic Brand Management for B2B Markets: A Road Map for Organizational Transformation', by Sharad Sarin and published by SAGE Publications India Pvt Ltd.[83]

'The Art of Business Leadership : Indian experiences', by S Balasubramanian and published by Response Books.[84]

• Interview of AM Naik, Feb 2012
• Interview of AM Naik, Feb 2014