An astute planning and a perspicacious execution of the planned ideas is the dividing line between success and failure. Atul C Kirloskar, CMD, Koel is one of those professionals, who have executed all their projects with meticulous precision. Therefore, it's no wonder that he has made Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited (KOEL) one of the leading companies in the country. In fact, not many companies experience the good fortune of registering growth rate exceeding 30% which is commonly regarded as formidable feat. KOEL is counted among the lucky few based on its performance in the recent past.

The KOEL has recorded a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 31% over the last three years. And this difficult feat has been possible because of leadership under Kirloskar. A man of action, who has full of vigour and enthusiasm, Kirloskar is known as a master strategist. He is known for setting new sights for every fiscal. For the current fiscal Kirloskar has targeted at higher than before spending on capital expenditure and a noticeable increase in exports. Always looking for fresh goals and innovative approach to business opportunities, Kirloskar has set his sights on the prospect of tapping the OEM markets against the traditional approach of generating orders from dealers, distributors and against tenders. The meticulous strategist that he is, his company has promptly bagged a considerable share of the OEM market. In fact, a good number of OEMs has already placed their orders and the initial lots also have been dispatched to their destinations. This covers a bevy of products such as engines, valves and engine bearings. Not only this, Kirloskar has also ensured that an aggregate of Rs 70 crores is earmarked as the enhanced capital expenditure amount on plant and machinery. He intends to utilize 20% of the amount in bearing and valves and the rest into engines.

The latest feather in Kirloskar's cap is the introduction of a new range of eco-friendly engines, the R1040 series, which are expected to replace the current range of medium range engines. What is significant about these new engines is that they are the first indigenously designed and manufactured engines that meet pollution norms in the US. And the man who has made it all possible is none other than Kirloskar. In fact, the development of the new range is a part of the company's effort to become an environment friendly company.

Kirloskar has been a vocal supporter of the anti-pollution campaigns; hence his new induction justifies his stance as someone who sticks to his guns at any cost. Like most of the current crop of corporate bigwigs, Kirloskar is also the proud owner of an aircraft. Though it adds to the luxury factor, Kirloskar insists that it should be considered more of a necessity than an indulgence. For a person like Kirloskar, time is priceless and this probably has been the reason that time has paid him in equal term, both in respectability and professionally.