He travels the world to keep his software firm in business but he returns home to promote the game of golf. Meet H R Srinivasan, vice chairman and MD of TAKE Solutions. Ever calm, primly dressed on the golf course with sleeves and gloves matched, he keeps a good grip on his sport as he does on volatile matches within India’s tech industry. Competition, rupee, visas and uncertainty-ridden economy, Srinivasan appears to be a man in control of his game.
“Well, there are a lot of global uncertainties. In the US and Europe, our key markets, things are looking up. Fingers crossed,” says Sri, as he is fondly called.
Even the tech sector can’t rejoice a falling rupee much, so Sri keeps a keen eye on the macro trends that will determine the mood of industry. “India will have focus on manufacturing and core sector growth. Focus on the real economy is a must.”
For years, Srinivasan has sought to contribute to golf in more than just a material way. “The development of any sport requires corporate support,” says Srinivasan. “For a sport to develop, we need to see that our players, too, develop – this needs support. Today, we support S S P Chowrasia and Khalin Joshi. We’ll support more players in future.”
TAKE now supports the India Golf Awards as well. “It is important that the best ambassadors of the game are recognised – professional, amateur and others.”
Golf and technology were far removed from Sri’s early career, which he started as a civil servant with the ministry of railways. But deal-making off and on the course was clearly in his marrow because he later led Sembcorp Logistics and Temasek Capital in Singapore.
Indian IT firms’ marketing is geared to address the needs of the US, a big export market. TAKE saw this coming early, and so became a corporate member of TPC Sawgrass, one of the top Florida golf resorts. As America golfs for business, Sri was quick to putt in that perspective. “It’s important in corporate America to be able to engage with clients and partners. To us, this platform provides the differentiation.”
Outside of deals on greens, golf also takes you places while teaching you to improve your skill. Sri has had special golf moments, but if he were to choose one, it would be representing “YPO Rest of the World versus YPO USA” in the President’s Trophy at Muirfield Village, Ohio (a Jack Nickaulas home course).
They say consistency is the road to better golf. Double that for business and Sri is one man to have figured it out.
Shaili Chopra is an award-winning business journalist and founder of www.golfingindian.com
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