Renault Middle East MD on working in top gear

Self-confessed workaholic, Mustansir Lakdawala, has learnt much from his 17-year relationship with the Japanese at Nissan Middle East and Renault GCC. Attention to detail, discipline in meeting deadlines and respect for protocol are all lessons for which he thanks his Japanese colleagues, and that continue to guide him in his current role as Renault GCC's managing director.

But if there's one thing that Mustansir has not been able to take away from the Japanese, it is the art of patience. "But then, the Middle East is not a region where patience can be practised," he says. "Developments happen at such a fast pace that I prefer to be aggressive, in order to cross the line and meet my goals."

From a close-knit family in Mumbai, Mustansir learnt to push the boundaries early in life, dealing with the financial challenges of his home life.

Although his parents did their best to shield the children from the difficult reality, Mustansir realised he needed to make a sacrifice at the age of 23.

"I had two younger brothers who needed looking after. At no point did my father insist that I take up a job and lend a hand to ease the situation, but I saw no other option other than to give up my studies in chartered accountancy - a decision I would never recommend to any youngster today."

But from necessity came good fortune, and an iron will to succeed. Eager to help his family, in 1989 he landed a sales job in Dubai.

Although his parents were initially against the idea, his father eventually agreed and Mustansir began the quick climb to the top of his career. 

Work

I was poorly prepared for the enormous commitment that my first job at a hardware company in Dubai demanded. But I used the experience to gain a good orientation of the city and to toughen up for new challenges. Not surprisingly, my intention to resume accountancy studies took a back seat.

In 1995, nearly six years after arriving in Dubai, an opportunity opened up with Nissan Middle East, which was to prove the turning point of my life.

I started out as a sales officer and saw the position as a chance to further my sales and marketing skills and build on my strong background in finance. During the first six years at Nissan, I was promoted three times - to senior officer, assistant manager and then manager. Eventually, based on my ability to generate quick results and manage teams, I was tasked with a bigger responsibility to oversee the GCC and Levant markets as the area operations manager.

Then, on the morning of September 26 2007, I received a call from a head-hunting agency for a job in an international automotive group as regional head. The call surprised me and afterwards I was in a dilemma. For the next couple of hours, I debated taking the job, but finally decided against it as I felt that a company's trust mattered more than the pay cheque. So I called the head-hunters and turned down the offer. Unbelievably, that very afternoon, I was called into the managing director's office and told that I was being promoted as general manager! It was indeed comforting to learn that loyalty does pay.

In 2008, I was invited to Japan to be presented with the Nissan President's Award for outstanding performance. The following year and also in 2010, I received two more awards for delivering outstanding results.

It was on 26 September again, this time in 2009, that I was informed of the top management's intention to appoint me as managing director of Renault GCC. Nissan and Renault share a strategic alliance, so my new position only required me to shift rooms in the same building!

During my first year with Renault, we doubled sales in the GCC. In 2010, we replicated this performance, despite the tough economic challenges. And last year we were able to sustain the momentum. 

Play

Travelling has always proved an eye-opener for me. Apart from my home country, India, Japan is a country I love to revisit.

I must have been there no less than 25 times, and yet the place still mesmerises me. I am yet to experience a culture that is more polite - there are never any raised voices, there is no clutter.

But apart from travel, although I was passionate about every form of sport during my early years, today I am not embarrassed to admit that I epitomise the phrase ‘All work and no play'. I'm certainly guilty of not achieving a work-life balance. I am 47 now and still wonder if I should engage in some recreational activity to be able to draw the line between work and personal life. I have no regrets though and look forward to each day with as much enthusiasm as I did on my first day at work.

My father is the one person I draw most inspiration from, for his perspective on life and never-give-up attitude. My wife, Rashida, is my positive energy, and I enjoy a good relationship with both my son, Aziz, who is 17, and my daughter, Munira , who is 12. I am equally proud of a dear friend and colleague, Noor Al Hassan, in Nissan Middle East, with whom I have shared a friendship of more than 15 years. 

Dream

When I took on the role as managing director of Renault GCC, I visited France to meet our executive vice-president. One of the things he said was, "Consider this as your own business." His words were like music to my ears and gave me a sense of ownership towards the company. It also laid the groundwork for me to nurture a cherished dream: I have yearned to set up a business-to-business enterprise - perhaps a manufacturing unit. I intend to translate my dreams when the time is right.

Another of my dreams is to travel around India and visit all of the places steeped in history.

I am a firm believer in destiny and while I recognise that it is my responsibility to give my children the very best, it is ultimately up to them to achieve their dreams. I can only hope that my children grow up with high self-esteem and humility.