Meet Siddharth Reddy, the youngest-ever CEO of a listed company in the world
For a man who walks, talks and breathes seaside resorts, city clubs and adventure destinations, Country Club of India’s head honcho 23-year-old Siddharth Y Reddy can’t remember the last time he took a holiday. “I realise this sounds ridiculous, but given the amount of travelling I do and the number of people I meet, simply being at home in Hyderabad is a luxury,” he says with a friendly grin.
His dad Rajeev Y Reddy, who built the company from scratch starting in 1989 into a Rs 500-crore giant, is still the chairman of the flourishing business. But it wasn’t always smooth sailing. “After the stock market crash in 2003, things were looking really bad. Then we realised that the only way out was to fight our way through,” says Siddharth, who majored in finance and marketing from the US.
Against all odds and advice, they embarked on a major expansion, acquiring new properties and negotiating strategic partnerships. They brought in stars like Salman Khan, Sushmita Sen, Daler Mehndi, Pooja Bedi, Mahima Chaudhary and Shilpa Shetty to perform for their members. Today the company is recognised by the Limca Book of Records as the biggest chain of family clubs in the country – and Siddharth plans to add 100 new properties and tie-ups this year, including ones in Tokyo, Sri Lanka, Goa and Bangalore.
“A little over a year ago, dad told me he’d suggested my name to the board. And I knew I was ready for it. With my whole family so involved in the business, my growing up years were almost an unofficial internship for me,” says Siddharth, who became the youngest-ever CEO of a listed company in the world.
Like his dad, Siddharth has a hands-on approach to the job. “After I heard about the blasts in Mumbai, I got worried about the boys in our Andheri club because they normally use the train. I was constantly on the phone and it took forever to get through, but I got them checked into hotels for that night.”
The eldest of three siblings, Siddharth’s sister is in law school while his brother is all set to join his team this year. “My mother (Manjula Reddy) is the president of the Hyderabad Ladies wing of FICCI and she’s the one who makes sure our feet are always planted firmly in the ground,” he says.
And while he’s easily one of the most eligible bachelors in Andhra Pradesh, Siddharth plans to enjoy his single status for a while. “It’s too early to think about marriage. And frankly, I’ve hardly got time for myself, so where will I find enough to sustain a relationship? But yes, I’ve got my fingers crossed.”
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