Visionary Business Leader Arunachalam Vellayan Passes Away at 72
The Indian business community mourns the loss of Arunachalam Vellayan, the former chairman of Murugappa Group, who passed away in Chennai on Monday at the age of 72. Friends and colleagues remembered him as an exceptional leader with remarkable business insight and future-forward thinking.
The Retail Revolution That Changed Agriculture
One of Vellayan's most significant achievements came in 2008 during his tenure as chairman of Coromandel International, one of India's largest fertilizer companies. Despite warnings from many quarters, he made the bold decision to establish company-owned retail shops under the brand name 'My Growmor.'
This revolutionary move marked the first time any company in the sector had attempted direct retail operations. Vellayan remained convinced that building direct relationships with farmers would establish long-term trust and provide invaluable insights into their actual needs.
His vision has been spectacularly validated. Recently, Coromandel International celebrated the opening of its 1,000th Growmor shop, now serving over 3 million farmers who strongly prefer the company's products. This extensive retail network has enabled the company to expand into additional services including drone-based fertilizer and pesticide spraying, soil testing, and professional advisory services.
Industry Leaders Pay Tribute
Prominent business figures across India have expressed their condolences and admiration for Vellayan's leadership. R. Seshasayee, chairman of Asian Paints, described him as "an outstanding leader who had a firm grip of both macro and micro aspects of the business."
Venu Srinivasan, chairman emeritus of TVS Motor Company and vice-chairman of Tata Trusts, called Vellayan "a tall leader of his generation" and "a great institution builder." Having known Vellayan for more than six decades, Srinivasan expressed deep personal loss at his passing.
Transformative Leadership at Murugappa Group
As chairman of Murugappa Group, Vellayan implemented both organic growth strategies and strategic acquisitions that dramatically expanded the conglomerate's reach and performance. Under his leadership, the group's revenues surged from ₹15,907 crore in FY09 to ₹30,023 crore in FY17.
The financial markets recognized this exceptional growth, boosting the group's market capitalization from ₹11,600 crore to over ₹70,000 crore by January 2018. According to an official Murugappa group statement, Vellayan dedicated several decades to the organization, providing strategic direction across its diversified businesses and strengthening the group through his vision, integrity, and long-term approach to value creation.
Vellayan was an alumnus of the prestigious Doon School, Shriram College of Commerce, and University of Warwick Business School. He is survived by his wife, two sons—Arun Vellayan and Narayanan Vellayan—and his grandchildren.
