CxO of the Week: Anand Sundar Raj, CEO, Facility Management Services, Quess Corp

Anand Sundar Raj has been associated with Quess since 2016 and responsible for spearheading the business of our Food & Specialty FM business.

Anand has over 23 years of industry experience and earlier, he was associated with Adecco India and Latham India Ltd, Sukhvarsha Management Consultants and Omam Consultants.

What is your top priority while making decisions to improve tech infra in your organization? Challenges you face in driving digital transformation?

Digital initiatives that will improve the customer’s lifecycle by simplifying the process and bringing in speed and transparency to achieve scale will always be our priority.

Transforming digital strategy from being a corporate initiative into solution provider for complex businesses and pair them with technical training to generate positive quantifiable outcome will always be well received by the team members.

In all the years that I have been in Quess, I have seen and understood what a tech-driven organization can do to enhance the clients business, be it save time, optimize resources and reduce cost significantly. We certainly believes that to ride a growth wave, businesses have to adopt technology and keep updated with the trend, which in the Facility Management business is all the more needed.

Do you feel that fresher in the industry come with only basic knowledge but don’t have the right skills to fulfill job requirements? If yes, your suggestion to students and colleges?

While hiring fresh graduates we look for attitude more than functional knowledge and we have leaders who joined as Fresher a few years back and grew due to their commitment to learn and enabling environment that we as a company offer. We do not expect them to be know-it-all from Day one. We would like them to be open to accepting new challenges with their zeal to learn new things.

During their joining, we have many programs which are tailor-made for these candidates to experience the new world of facility management, understand the values of Quess that we diligently abide by and prepare them for a 360-degree learning experience. All these candidates are closely mentored by the trained officials who monitor their work and guide them through the process.

Aspiring candidates should not feel afraid that they are entering the unknown; rather they should accept this challenge open-heartedly and learn as much as they can in this role.

What’s your mantra to become successful in life?

Be Positive & Cheerful. Time will get past us both - good and bad. In my long career, interacting with so many peoples, this is what I have taken with me. Whatever happens, happens for good. Bad situations impart us with the lessons which are hard to get by. Take that as a teaching and move towards the more positive light. It’s a positive attitude and belief in one’s capability that can help us cross mountains.

What would you like to give back to society?

More than two decades of working in People Industry and have the satisfaction of providing jobs to thousands by creating employability. The biggest responsibility for a person living in a society is getting a decent job. I am playing my part to help that person to achieve their dream. This sense of fulfillment that we as the company gets after realizing that we helped someone earn a decent living is worthy and meaningful.

Your favorite book and what are you reading now?

Not a serious reader

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

There is a saying by Arlen Specter “There's nothing more important than our good health - that's our principal capital asset”, I truly believe in this quote.

I work out daily and enjoy running the most. Apart from taking care of my health, I indulge in watching movies and I keep myself abreast with Current Affairs.

Achievements (Awards & Recognitions)

“Chairman’s Club Award” – For his exceptional services making Quess reach new heights in Facility management.

Experience

Anand has 23 Years + of industry experience. Earlier, he was associated with Adecco India for 14 years handling various senior leadership roles. Prior to Adecco, he worked with Latham India Ltd, Sukhvarsha Management Consultants and Omam Consultants.

First Job – Started in Sales in Office Automation Industry

Education – Engineering from Bharathidasan University

Take a look at the previous CxO