To make a vision come true, one needs strength, endurance and resilience, which come only to people of substance. When we talk about people like N. S. Sekhsaria, Chairman, ACC, the first thing that comes to mind is his steely determination and power to substance that he carries with him. No wonder that he has made Associated Cement Companies (ACC) a leading brand in the country.

Known for his ability to cement the bond of success through the company's numerous products, Sekhsaria, through his strategic vision and nimble leadership, has made ACC a brand synonymous with quality cement. He has helped the ACC adopt the brand building approach to marketing cement, which has proved to be exceptionally successful in respect to blended cements.

The largest cement producer in India, the ACC has undertaken aggressive expansion and restructuring plans with a view to improving efficiency and profitability. It has made concerted effort to catch up with its domestic peers like Gujarat Ambuja and Madras Cement and others. Undeniably, all these attempts have largely been possible because of Sekhsaria's able leadership.

In fact, ACC is the first company in the country to establish a commercial ready-mix concrete (RMX) in Mumbai. Sekhsaria's smart moves in various directions have redefined the pace and quality of construction activity in metropolitan cities and in mega infrastructure projects.

The oldest and the second largest cement manufacturer in the country with a total consolidated capacity in the region of 17.6 MT (million tonnes), the ACC commands a near 12 per cent industry capacity share. With 14 plants and a 9,000-strong dealer network, ACC is one of the few companies to have a pan-India presence.

A firm believer in R&D works, ACC under Sekhsaria's stewardship has become the only cement producer in India with its own in-house Research and Development facility at Thane. Since its inception in 1936, the company has been a trendsetter in production, marketing and personnel management processes. A strategist to the core, he has been engaged in the task of taking the leading Indian cement manufacturing company to newer heights of excellence.

In its seven decades' long journey, the company has gone through many hands from Tatas to GACL to Holcim, yet its operations never suffered, which in itself is a testimony of the company's effective, efficient and dedicated management. It is people like Sekhsaria who give a new meaning to the company's cherished dreams.