It is often said that mariners who have spent a significant time of their life on the high seas prefer to enjoy a calm and composed life on land once they retire. However, Captain Jamshed Meherwan Irani, MD of Mumbai-based Ahura Logistics, is an exception to this rule. After retiring from the post of CEO at Prudential Shipping Agencies, he opened Ahura Logisitics in February 2005.
Ahura Logistics is one of the leading SME logistics companies in the country, which has done exceptionally well in the third party logistics (3PL) segment in a short span of four years. The company started as a logistics service provider (LSP) for some manufacturing companies in Mumbai. Today, it has a pan-India presence with over 20 sales offices in major cities across the country.
Career graph
Capt Irani entered the shipping and logistics business with over 20 years of experience as a master mariner.
In 1979, he was selected as a deck apprentice by Scindia Steam Navigation Company Ltd, one of the most reputed ship management companies in India. He successfully completed his training in 1982 and acquired the Second Mate Certificate in the same year. Thereafter, he rejoined the company as 3rd Officer. In 1985, he acquired the First Mate Certificate and was promoted to 2nd Officer.
In 1994, Capt Irani became the member of the esteemed Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers Examination, India. His career as a Master Mariner started when he joined Master Marine Services Pvt Ltd as an Operations Manager in 1996.
He joined Prudential Shipping Agencies, the Indian shipping agent of Conti Lines, Antwerp, Belgium, as a General Manager in 1998 and was promoted to the post of CEO in 2002.
Banking on growing demand
Like an astute businessman, he quickly picked up the pulse of the developments that were taking place in the Indian logistics industry and went ahead to establish his own third party logistics (3PL) company.
Capt Irani says, “I had made up my mind to start my own logistics company way before my retirement as a Master Mariner. Though most Master Mariners either take up the job of a teacher or a consultant after bidding adieu to the sea, I decided to foray into the 3PL segment, given its tremendous growth potential.”
The captain of the ship
It would not be incorrect to say that Capt Irani’s leadership has played a defining role in the overall growth and expansion of Ahura. The company which started its journey in February 2005 has expanded considerably - both in terms of turnover and reach - under the aegis of Capt Irani.
He has travelled extensively to different parts of the world, especially the maritime nations. As the head of the organisation, Capt Irani is the key decision maker when it comes to marketing, business expansion, cargo and HR operations.
The winning formula Capt Irani believes that small and mid-sized logistics players will play a significant role in overall development of the logistics industry in India in the years to come. According to him, SMEs in the logistics segment should concentrate on optimising their costs and enhancing their productivity by constantly upgrading themselves to stay ahead of the competition. |
