Maharashtra’s minister of industries presents lifetime honour to Gautham Pai of Manipal Group

Desai also inaugurated Mumbai Mudrak Sangh’s new logo to commemorate their 60th year. The keynote address for the event was delivered by Sanjay Deshpande, chief innovation officer and CEO, Uniken.

Dev Nair, president, AIFMP was the guest of hounour for the event, which also saw panel comprising of Rajendrakumar Anayath, director at The Technological Institute of Textile and Sciences ; Harsha Bhatkal of Popular Prakashan; Pragnyat Lalwani of Seshasayee and Priyatosh Kumar of Xerox India discussed printing in the 21st century. The session was moderated by Ramu Ramanathan, editor, PrintWeek India.

Pai, who studied printing technology at the Manipal Institute of Technology, since inheriting the mantle in 2004 from his father drew up a five-year plan, floated joint ventures with strategic investors, repurposed the printing business which has resulted in growth at a blistering pace. His vision and business acumen has transformed an order-specific Manipal Press into an end-to-end print solution provider Manipal Technologies which is one of the best print solution providers in India today. Manipal Technologies is also the only company to win the PrintWeek India’s ‘Company of the Year’ twice.

Under his tutelage, Manipal Technologies (The print arm of Manipal Group) has entered into a strategic partnership with Quad/Graphics, Inc. a global leader in print and related multichannel solutions in 2012 and merged with packaging specialist Utility to form Manipal Utility Packaging Solutions in 2014. Pai who is known to be reticent and calm has propelled his family business into a professionally managed, well diversified business conglomerate having a global footprint, all within a decade.

Two of Pai’s customers and contemporaries M Narendra, former chairman, Indian Overseas Bank and Subhasis Ganguly, formerly of Pearsons India who have worked closely with him will introduce him at the event. While talking about Pai, Ganguly said, “Gautham is a young and energetic entrepreneur. He is a visionary who dreams big and turns those dreams into reality. He is a down-to-earth and friendly person with a cool head on his shoulders. I wish him all the best.”

Mumbai Mudrak Sangh has been awarding the Lifetime Achievement Award since 2005 at their annual Printer’s Day celebration to honour Johannes Gutenberg’s legacy. Previous recipients of MMS’ lifetime achievement award include Amila Singhvi, IPP; R Chockalingam of Srinivas Fine Art; Late Jayantrao Salgaokar, Kalanirnay; V V Patwardhan of Prabhat Agency; Sanat Shah, CMD, Manugraph India; P Sajith and K C Sanjeev of Welbound and M N Cooper and R R Joshi of Modular Infotech.