Chip Off The New Block

Srinivasan Gopalan, CEO, Ozone Group, brings creativity to every project and also manages a risk-free business strategy

- Jayashree Kini Mendes

Smart leaders understand that their job requires them to identify trade-offs, choosing what not to do as much as what to do. Grading the importance of various initiatives in an environment of finite resources is a primary test of leadership. And no one understands this better than Srinivasan Gopalan, CEO, Ozone Group.

The quick-thinking Gopalan is well versed with the rules of the game. Having spent years in the real estate business, he has seen the oscillations. His primary tenet is that at a time when location was the mainstay of development, today the criteria for success is delivery. Gopalan says, “A developer may have swooped on the best of location. But what good is that if you cannot deliver the project on time? In fact, location today is a given rather than a USP.”

Having joined the Ozone Group five years ago, his priority was to continue with a steady stream of projects. Over the last couple of years, the group has launched and completed or is in the process of completing maximum number of projects. But how they ensure that projects are completed on time are some of the convictions the group lives by: Clear titles, up-to-date approvals, least complications, positive feasibility report, and a proper financial analysis in place. Gopalan doesn’t believe in compromising on any of these.

Of course, other factors that are equally critical to him is a balanced approach to customers and commitment to delivering according to their requirements.

BUILD THEM UP

India’s geography and its typical set of inhabitants has compelled developers to build novel kinds of homes and offices. While high-rises are the norm in Mumbai, stand-alone homes (villas) or plotted developments is what drives demand in other locations. Of course, with the scarcity of land at sought-after locations, apartments are soon becoming the way. But here the sizes would vary, along with the ticket size.