"WE'RE NOT BUILDING FOR 2025, WE'RE BUILDING FOR 2036"

In this conversation with BW Businessworld's Noor Fathima Warsia, KESHAV BHAJANKA, Executive Director, Century Plyboards, opens up on what it takes to scale with structure, fix what is broken, and build a company that outlasts its founders

- Noor Fathima Warsia

You have set a bold target of Rs 12,000 crore by FY31. But when you look beyond that, say, to Century PlyBoards' Golden Jubilee in 2036, what is the bigger vision you are working towards?

The vision is simple but powerful — to build an institution. Numbers like Rs 12,000 crore are milestones, but more important is that the company is structurally ready to scale beyond that. If we grow to Rs 12,000 crore but collapse at Rs 15,000 crore, then it is meaningless. The infrastructure, the people, and the culture need to be robust.

We are not building for 2025 but for 2036. Century PlyBoards' Golden Jubilee has to be a defining milestone. The journey is about shifting Century Plyboards from a high-performing company to an enduring organisation. We are aligning people, plants, and platforms with that goal. Honestly, my personal mission is to make the company future-proof - not just bigger but better, more agile and more meaningful.

You have openly spoken about underperformance in parts of the business, especially laminates. What has that experience taught you about leadership and execution?