Former Chief Executive Officer of PSG Institutions and former President of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Southern Region, CR Swaminathan passed away on 14th December in Coimbatore. He was 74 years old and is survived by his wife.
Swaminathan, a BSc Agriculture graduate from Bapala Agricultural College and MBA at PSG Institutions, joined PSG Industrial Institute in 1971 as Assistant Sales Manager – Marketing and was appointed CEO of the Institutes in 1985, a position he held till 2005.
L Gopalakrishnan, managing trustee of PSG & Sons Charities, said Mr Swaminathan also worked for the progress of the education sector in Coimbatore. With his executive involvement in all major industrial associations, he led the common cause when he was working at PSG Industrial Institute.
He was part of voluntary and social organizations in Coimbatore. He had headed CIIs in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu and the Southern Region, was an independent director in several companies, and was a member of the governing councils of several educational institutions.
CK Ranganathan, President, CII Southern Region said, “Mr. Swaminathan was a visionary leader and contributed greatly to the industrial development of South India and especially in Tamil Nadu.
CII Tamil Nadu President S. Chandrakumar said that he was an active leader in the field of industry and academia.
CII Coimbatore Zone President V. Arjun Prakash said that Mr. Swaminathan was a mentor to many in many of CII’s pioneering initiatives.
He had served as the President of Southern India Engineering Manufacturers Association (SIEMA), Coimbatore Management Association and Coimbatore Industrial Infrastructure Association (COINDIA). He has been the President of the Institute of Indian Foundrymen and the Indian Machine Tools Manufacturing Association.
According to SIEMA President KV Karthik, Mr Swaminathan was instrumental in the formation of COINDIA and was even ready to guide the pumpset industry on sourcing of raw materials recently, as he did through the Foundry Development Foundation. Did it for casting.
Mahendra Ramdas, former president of COINDIA, said that Mr Swaminathan facilitated and worked for the development of several infrastructure projects in Coimbatore.
Siruthuli’s managing trustee Vanitha Mohan said that for conservation of water bodies or afforestation projects, Mr Swaminathan, a trustee, guided him on approaching the right people and seeking permission.