Manu Trivedi
Manu began his career in 1994. It was an interesting time. Liberalisation had only just begun, but change was in the air. The great Indian entrepreneurial spirit had been freed, and there would be no looking back.
The Indian entrepreneur was looking at new ideas; and as is always the case, he was well ahead of regulation.
One such idea was building public infrastructure commercially. Infrastructure was central to unlocking the economy’s potential.
Manu was fortunate to participate in the sector from its very beginnings to well into its maturity. In the process, he contributed to virtually every Marquee project.
These included the first private-sector port; the first toll bridge, the first toll roads, the first private airport, and the first joint-sector water project. He also led pioneering projects in the renewable energy sector.
He eventually became the youngest CEOs in the industry and led investments in energy, infrastructure and technology in India, Europe and South East Asia.
“Concept to Commissioning” of projects of the early projects required foundational development work across myriad disciplines such as user behaviour modelling, feasibility assessment, contracting, value engineering, project management, concessioning, economic impact assessment, financial projections, stakeholder engagement, environment and social impact assessment and mitigation, risk management and so on.
This “Classic Developer” role demands “Investment Grade” projects on the back of a trailing regulatory and financing environment. It involved comprehensive development protocols and the rapid adoption of best practices. It involved developing complex Project Financing structures that tailored structures to the mandates and the risk appetite of Banks, Domestic Financial Institutions, multi-laterals and Private Equity. It was a lot of work.
Manu eventually honed an approach that involved creating a hierarchy of interventions; as well as key building blocks – to be delivered in a logical order.
This approach is able to build, expand and turn around businesses across any sector most efficiently. We’ve chosen to call this approach “Smart Staging”.
Smart staging helps build complete solutions, optimize resources, allocate responsibility, ensure oversight, allow timely course corrections – and most importantly build outcome-based monitoring. Doing the right things, in the right order and at the right pace results in “robust” implementation. This Philosophy underscores all our initiatives.
Manu has a diverse range of interests outside work. He runs the country’s only vinyl enthusiasts community called The Revolver Club, collects books and vintage maps, indulges in photography, refurbishes modern classic cars and travels to historical Europe. Manu loves to introduce young people to the brilliance of Jazz through lectures and listening sessions. He is writing a Modern Guide to Varanasi.
This limits his engagement to a few deserving clients.
