2. 58
Gautam Pradhan
INTERVIEW
www.thecfome.com
Success
beyond
boundaries
in other management roles such
as strategic decision making,
mentoring and leading efficiency
and productivity across a range of
other departments and functions,
as well as a being a catalyst in
ensuring that the board’s vision
for the organisation is achieved.
A significant percentage of
NMDC’s shares are owned
publicly. Does the CFO
play a role in balancing
the interests of the
shareholders?
As a CFO, balancing the
shareholders’ interests
is definitely part of my
responsibility. In order to achieve
this goal there needs to be a
careful evaluation of each decision
while keeping the short-term and
long-term goals of the company
in mind. At NMDC we actively
implement a system where we
utilise a balance scorecard as a
method of ensuring that all our
primary objectives are met yet
at the same time continuously
enhance our relationships with
our shareholders.
NMDC has completed
various projects across the
Emirates. Are there plans to
move abroad?
As NMDC moves towards
becoming an international
player, our strategic expansion
plans are focused in areas within
the GCC region and India. In line
with this strategy, we opened
How has a company
with such a unique set
of deliverables grown so
consistently over the years?
Our organisation strongly believes
that the core to our strength is the
people, process and equipment.
A strategic decision led by our
Board of Directors and the
senior management has been
implemented that required us
to consistently invest in these
three aspects to help expand our
business beyond the territorial
boundaries of the UAE and at
the same time enhance what
we can offer which is relevant
to these segments. We attribute
our success to the efforts which
every employee contributes. We
also strongly believe in the “We
can make it happen” principle.
The management raises the index
of performance while setting
SMART objectives within the
organisation and encouraging the
employees to achieve them.
How has your position
as the CFO changed
over NMDC’s 35 years of
operation?
As the market evolves and
business dynamics change, my
role as the CFO has become
complex and more challenging.
A few years back, I was mainly
focused on bookkeeping,
accounting and other financial
responsibilities such as arranging
bank facilities. But moving
forward I became more involved
The UAE is progressively becoming
a hub for world-class infrastructure.
The country has duly impressed the
rest of the globe with noteworthy
land developments showcased across
the emirates. Among the remarkable
landscapes found in Abu Dhabi are
the Corniche Beach, Yas Island and Sir
Baniyas Island. Behind these successful
projects is NMDC the dredging division
of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company
(ADNOC).
In an interview with CFO Magazine,
Gautam Pradhan, Chief Financial Officer,
NMDC shares an exclusive look into
the company’s international blueprint
for growth and his dynamic role as a
strategic leader of one of the best in
dredging and marine construction in
the Middle East.
3. 59
Gautam Pradhan
INTERVIEW
www.thecfome.com
branches in Qatar, Bahrain,
Oman and India. This has
paid rich dividends recently as
projects of strategic importance
are bagged in Qatar and
Bahrain. Furthermore, NMDC
(UAE) has recently played
a key role as a leader of an
international consortium with
Royal Boskalis Westminister
(Netherlands) and Jan
De Nul Group (Belgium)
for the awarding of the
Suez Canal Dredging
project in Egypt. Moving
forward we have devised
a strategic approach
that will enable us to
play a key role in the
development of India’s
marine infrastructure.
What are the global
strategies that are part of
the CFO’s responsibilities?
As CFO, understanding the
macro economic scenario,
risk analysis and mitigating
those risks are all a part of my
responsibilities. I also have to
have a proper comprehension
“A few years back I was
mainly focused on financial
responsibilities... moving
forward I became more
involved in strategic
decision making, mentoring
and leading productivity.”
4. Gautam Pradhan
INTERVIEW
60 www.thecfome.com
of the challenges faced by the
company in terms of dealing
with foreign contracts, direct
and indirect taxes, and hedging
and managing the integration
process. These are essential to
enhance shareholders wealth
and mitigate undue risk.
How significant is
accountancy for NMDC in
its operations? Why exactly?
Accountancy is the lifeline of any
company; it does not only record
the finances, it also reflects the
health of the organisation. The
MIS reports, analysis, trends and
statistical information go a long
way toward effectively providing
the diagnostic approach essential
for the company.
How have NMDC’s
environmental activities
helped the company’s
bottom line?
NMDC’s work is well-synchronised
with our environmental activities
and specifically with nature.
Our activities are closely linked
to sand and water and we view
such activities with strategic
importance. Projects such as
increasing water supply to
mangroves and beach nourishment
help us support the environmental
activities while adding to our
bottom line.
“Accountancy is
the lifeline of any
company; it does
not only record
the finances, it
also reflects the
health of the
organisation.”
A burgeoning
slice of
Abu Dhabi
coastline.
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