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S. N. Subrahmanyan did not just lead L&T; he modernized it for the future. He transformed India’s legacy engineering giant into a tech-savvy and globally renowned conglomerate. From constructing record-breaking infrastructure like the Statue of Unity and Atal Setu to integrating AI, BIM, and 3D printing into core operations, he reshaped the company’s mindset to embrace innovation and global expansion. This article explores how the leadership of visionary L&T CEO S.N. Subrahmanyan uplifted the organization to a global stage.

S. N. Subrahmanyan biography

Source: L&T

Early Life and Education

S.N. Subrahmanyan’s father worked as the General Manager at the Indian Railways. S.N. completed his schooling at Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Chennai, and graduated from the National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra, in civil engineering in 1982. However, he pursued his master’s in business administration from the Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune. He also completed an Executive Management Programme from the London Business School. 

S.N. Subrahmanyan Career at L&T

S. N. Subrahmanyan joined L&T in 1984 as a project planning engineer in the ECC (Engineering, Construction, and Contracts) division. Under the mentorship of industry stalwarts like Cheyur Ramaswamy Ramakrishnan, A. Ramakrishna, and K. V. Rangaswami, he developed deep expertise in managing complex engineering projects.

In 2011, he was appointed a full-time Director on the L&T Board. Under his leadership, major projects such as the Statue of Unity, K9 Vajra, Atal Setu, ITER, and the Ayodhya Ram Mandir were executed, many of which earned recognition for being record-breaking in their category.

In 2015, he became Deputy Managing Director & President of L&T. In 2017, following the retirement of A. M. Naik, he was appointed CEO & MD. Later in 2023, he assumed the role of Chairman & Managing Director. 

S.N. Subrahmanyan’s leadership at L&T

Source: Indian PSU

After working in various roles of increasing responsibility across various business verticals, S.N. in 2011, was appointed as full-time Director on the L&T Board. With S.N. leadership, many projects were successfully executed, such as the Statue of Unity, K9 Vajra, Atal Setu, ITER, Ayodhya Ram Mandir, and many more. These projects are even recognised for being the tallest, longest, smartest, or first in their respective categories. 

In 2015, he was promoted to Deputy Managing Director & President, and in 2017, following A.M. Naik’s tenure, the board elected him as L&T CEO and Managing Director. By 2023, he was elevated to the role of Chairman & MD of the company.

L&T’s Digital Transformation & Expansion

Under the leadership of L&T CEO S.N. Subrahmanyan, the digital transformation of L&T Construction became a game-changer in the engineering and construction sector.

• They developed a platform to bring change in the traditional process of engineering and construction, called L&T- NxT, that uses innovative technologies, AI, ML, and IoT to offer products, solutions and platforms.   
• L&T has increased the use of Building Information Modelling [BIM] in its construction workflows to enhance project management, design, and construction processes by real-time site project monitoring and optimisation. 
• By collaborating with over 45 MSMEs and startups, L&T is developing innovative digital solutions for skill development and training the workforce in digital capabilities. 
• L&T launched L&T-SuFin, a B2B e-commerce platform to transform the marketplace for industrial products by offering a range of solutions and products for financing and logistics support.  
• L&T has integrated 3D printing in construction to leverage the innovative construction technologies in projects like the 3D-printed post office in Bengaluru and a set of luxury villas.  

L&T’s Global Rise

Source: CNBC TV18

With his strategic mindset, L&T entered the unexplored geographies, like the Middle East, Africa, and ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations], expanding at the global level. Thus, today, L&T is recognised among Asia’s most-honoured companies by institutional investors.  

In 2020, L&T was recognised as the Company of the Year by Business Standard. In 2023, it was listed among the world’s best employers on the Forbes list and one of India’s Best Employers among Nation-Builders by the Great Place to Work [GPTW] institute. 

Thus, S.N., over the years, has played a significant role in guiding the company’s infrastructure business to become the largest in India and among the biggest globally. He will continue to focus on driving L&T’s diverse business interests towards new heights by leveraging the power of digitalisation, technology, transition to green energy and fostering a people-centric culture.

Directorships of S.N. Subrahmanyan in other companies 

• Director of the Indian Foundation for Quality Management.
• Chairman of L&T Semiconductor Technologies Limited.
• Chairman of L&T Realty Developers Limited.
• Chairman of L&T Metro Rail [Hyderabad] Limited.
• Chairman of L&T Technology Services Limited.
• Chairman of LTIMindtree Limited.
• Chairman of L&T Finance Limited. 

S.N. Subrahmanyan’s Leadership 

• S.N. is one of the nine founding members of the Climate Finance Leadership Initiative [CFLI] India. There, he is actively playing a significant role in bringing global scale and influence to the initiative.
• S.N. also holds the position of the regular honorary chairperson of the Board of Governors at the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, bestowed upon him by the Education Ministry.  
• In February 2021, S.N. was appointed by the Union Ministry of Labour & Employment as the Chairman of the National Safety Council for two years. S.N. played a crucial role in ensuring workplace safety under the new Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions Code, 2020 [OSH Code, 2020].

S.N. Subrahmanyan’s Philanthropy

With a vision to create a positive impact with the help of L&T’s CSR initiatives, S.N. has embraced his leadership beyond business success. They have developed skill development centres across the country to train less privileged youth in skills related to construction, manufacturing, and technology. In addition, they also support education in underserved communities by providing funding, scholarships, and delivering infrastructure.

L&T has also made significant contributions in disaster relief efforts, healthcare services in rural areas, and women’s empowerment programs. With S.N.’s guidance, they have effectively integrated sustainability into L&T’s projects. Using rainwater harvesting systems on construction sites, adapting solar and wind energy, and sustainable urban development are some of the practices developed by L&T to contribute to the sustainability of the country. 

Awards and Recognition

• In 2012, S.N. was recognised as the ‘Infrastructure Person of the Year’ by Construction Week [CW] magazine.
• In 2014, S.N. was honoured with the ‘Leading Engineering Personality’ award at Glimpses of Engineering Personalities by the Institution of Engineers.
• S.N. was ranked 36th in the’ ‘2014 Construction Week Power 100’.
• In 2019, the Indian Institute of Metallurgy [IIM] recognised S.N. with the IIM-JRD Tata award for his service to the country through leadership in the industry, corporate governance and fulfilling societal responsibilities. 
• S.N. won the Emergent Award at the CEO Awards 2019 for exemplary leadership.
• He was also recognised as CEO of the year 2019 by CNBC-Awaaz.
• S.N. was also appointed as Chairman of the National Safety Council by the Labour Ministry.
• S.N. was featured in the Top 50 Utilities Leaders in the GCC 2021.
• S.N. was also recognised as Best CEO in the Infrastructure and Engineering category of BT-PwC India’s Best CEOs ranking 2022.
• S.N. was recognised as Best CEO in the Infrastructure Sector of the Fortune India Best CEOs 2022.
• S.N. was ranked 8th in the Power 100 list by Construction Week about influential faces of Middle East construction in 2023.
• S.N. won the Eminent Engineer award from the Engineering Council of India in 2024. 

S.N. Subrahmanyan’s recent Controversy

In January 2025, a video went viral where an employee was asking why L&T, one of India’s largest conglomerates, makes its employees work on Saturdays. In response, S.N. showed regret at not being able to make the employees work on Sundays. In addition, he stated that it would make him happier since he works on Sunday. 

He even questioned what employees do sitting at home, and how long spouses can stare at each other. Thus, he suggested that employees should instead start working on Sundays in the office as well. 

Due to his bold questions and suggestions, his wife, Meena Subrahmanyan, also faced trolling. However, he defended his statements, with China’s longer work hours as a reason to adopt a 90-hour workweek for success. 

Conclusion

S.N. Subrahmanyan’s leadership as L&T CEO represents a unique blend of engineering acumen and visionary strategy. By embracing technology, expanding globally, and committing to sustainability and CSR, he has redefined the trajectory of Larsen & Toubro. His journey reflects ambition, discipline, and a forward-looking mindset. Whether applauded for his achievements or questioned for his bold views, one thing is clear: under L&T CEO S.N. Subrahmanyan, the company isn’t just constructing buildings, it’s constructing the future.

FAQs

Q1. Who is the CEO of L&T?
S.N. Subrahmanyan is the CEO and Chairman of Larsen & Toubro (L&T).

Q2. What is the controversy surrounding S.N. Subrahmanyan?
He faced backlash for suggesting employees work on Sundays and endorsing a 90-hour workweek.

Q3. Who is the wife of L&T’s CEO?
Meena Subrahmanyan is the wife of S.N. Subrahmanyan, the CEO of L&T.