Contribution of BE’s to the printing industry (Part III)

Continuing to unfold contributions of BEs to the printing industry, D Ramalingam of P&P, this time talks about a man who has entrenched himself into offset printing and prepress so much that he breathes it. This personality is Giridharan Santhanam, CEO for sales and marketing at Kapoor Imaging Pvt Ltd, Chennai, enriching the industry significantly. Giridharan Santhanam, DPT (Lithography), IPT, Chennai; BE Printing, Pune University; MS Print Management, Pittsburg University is a person who has dedicated his life to the printing industry contributing such innovative ideas which matter effectively. Having finished his Diploma from IPT with a strong foundation given by able faculty, Giri (as he is popularly known) was able to face the interview with such a confidence that PB Kulkarni, the then principal of the BE Printing course in Pune University waived the certain fees percentage.

According to Giri, the tradition of giving a good education in engineering subjects before going to actual printing helped him in his machine maintenance work later. This encouraged him to take up M Sc course in Pittsburg. Having gained knowledge in Print Management, Giri tried his hands in running a press in the US. But due to family reasons, he had to return to India. Going back to US would mean losing the status as was the convention there.

Giri looked around and got hooked up with Proteck Circuits & Equipments, Chennai who were looking for somebody to promote their processors. In fact, Giri was given 18 months time to start a separate division in the company for sales & marketing of that product. It was that time when this correspondent organised a seminar for offset printers. Giri brought the processor to the 9th floor, MPLA office for a live demo and practical training.

Giri got a good break by joining Kodak (Graphic Communications) to sell their products to Sri Lanka and neighbouring countries as assistant manager in May 1998. Thereafter it was a fast track journey for Giri, becoming regional manager, south in July 1999; national manager in January 2005 and when Kodak expanded their portfolio adding new products, he became national manager for those new products like colour management system and CtP. Giri rose to the position of sales director in April 2007 and continued till February 2008.

Kapoor Imaging Pvt Ltd, Chennai, operational under the guidance of Sunil Kapoor, managing director, always looking for new products and innovations invited Giri to be their CEO for sales & marketing of their complete range of products. He is looking after Fuji, Kinyo, Sericol, Compose, Ultra Chem, etc products, along with taking care of all their eight branches for sales and marketing, technical solutions and in-house training of the staff. When this correspondent entered the Kapoor Imaging Pvt Ltd’s new premises, Giri was involved in video conferencing with the branches and explaining to one of his team members what was it all about. His thorough training at Leeds, Harrow, Shenzen, Osterode Kodak plants stands him in good stead. And this sort of contribution would definitely inspire other educated professionals from within the printing institutions spread all over the country!