Ramakrishnan retires from Heidelberg after 30 solid years of service

G Ramakrishnan, who served as the regional sales manager for Heidelberg India, retired from service on 31 January, 2014, after an eventful 30-year stint at the firm.

28 Feb 2014 | By Anand Srinivasan

“I have been a part of the Heidelberg India group since 15 July, 1983, when it was a part of the Mahindra and Mahindra group. It was a wonderful experience, where we used to get total support from Heidelberg India as well as from Germany, which gave me complete job satisfaction so as to stay with them for the last 30-plus years," said Ramakrishnan. 

Ramakrishnan, a respected and trusted name among the printing fraternity of South India joined Heidelberg as an employee in the finance section in July 1983. But soon the company realised that he had a knack for sales and asked him to nurture and groom the Kerala territory to start with. “Initially I was asked to nurture and groom Kerala market for seven years, which helped us to have a sizeable number of Heidelberg installations in that region,” he said.
 
One of his greatest achievements during the tenure was establishing and strengthening the Heidelberg brand in Sivakasi. Subsequently, under him, Tamil Nadu, including Sivakasi, saw installations of Heidelberg at leading printshops namely ITC, Multivista, NPT Offset, Nagaraj and Company, Srinivas Fine Arts, Lovely Offset Printers, Sel Jegat Printers, Bell Group of companies, Safire Offset Printers, Ace Data, Chromaprint, Menaka Cards, and Thee Classic Printers.

Klaus Nielsen, managing director of Heidelberg India, during the farewell ceremony on 29 January 2014, stated, “Ramakrishnan’s sales profile reflects his high values and ethics. His great rapport with the customers brought us repeat orders. We appreciate his dedication and loyalty to Heidelberg.”

Nagarajan, managing director of Chennai-based Nagaraj and Company (Amra Press), commended Ramakrishnan, as a “reliable salesman with integrity”. “He will never recommend a machine that will not serve or suit the purpose of the end-user. No vanishing act with him, after selling a machine. At any point of time after the sales, he is available for support. He is the bridge between Heidelberg and customers like us.”

In his farewell address, Ramakrishnan said, “Heidelberg has been my mother’s house. My tenure here has been memorable, right from my fledgling days to this day, when I am officially retiring from Heidelberg India with a heavy heart. Heidelberg shaped my career and life. I will continue to promote Heidelberg, even after my retirement. It is part of my DNA composition now.”
 
Ramakrishnan sent a farewell message to all his clients stating that he will not say goodbye as he is just a phone call away from them. He promised to assist his former clients through his colleagues and friends in Heidelberg India during his post retirement period.

Post his retirement, Ramakrishnan has joined Menaka Cards, a leading manufacturer and supplier of invitation cards in India. Speaking on his new association with Menaka Cards, Ramakrishnan said, “I have decided not to opt for equipment sales after having served Heidelberg. Instead I will be a part of Menaka Cards with Sankaralingam, CMD, who has been my role model entrepreneur. He has built his own successful empire as a wedding card manufacturer since 1980s.”