Mumbai: One of India’s most frequent flyers is neither a celebrity industrialist nor a private-jet owner. The distinction belongs to Sukumaran Nair Ganesh Kumar, a soft-spoken, medium-scale entrepreneur based in Pune, Maharashtra, whose business journey has been defined by presence on the ground rather than prominence in the spotlight.
Remarkably, in 2017, Kumar took 216 commercial flights in a single year, earning a place in the Limca Book of Records as the “Highest Travelled Indian”. Remarkably, he surpassed this achievement the very next year, breaking his own record with 234 flights in 2018, underscoring the relentless pace of his work-driven travel.
From industrial sites in India to projects across Africa and the Middle East, his travels were driven not by luxury but by responsibility — showing up at construction sites, solving problems firsthand and leading from the front. In a corporate world increasingly managed from afar, Ganesh Kumar’s story is one of quiet determination, built one flight and one project at a time.
There were no luxury vacations or headline-grabbing tours behind those numbers. Every flight was a workday in the air — shuttling between cement plants, construction sites, power projects, and emerging markets across continents. His passport doesn’t flaunt privilege; it documents perseverance. In an age of private jets and boardroom Zoom calls, Ganesh Kumar’s record is a reminder that sometimes, growth is still powered by economy seats, tight schedules, and relentless execution.
The beginning
Originally from Kerala, Ganesh Kumar holds a postgraduate degree in business management from Symbiosis Institute of Management, Pune. After completing his studies, he began his professional career with an engineering construction & industrial infrastructure company in Pune, where he spent three years gaining hands-on experience in industrial construction and project execution. This early exposure played a crucial role in shaping his practical understanding of the industry and laid the groundwork for his future entrepreneurial journey.
In 1984, Ganesh Kumar partnered with Krishnankutty to establish Ayoki Fabricon Pvt. Ltd. What started as a modest entrepreneurial venture quickly transformed into a globally respected construction and engineering services company, recognised for its expertise and commitment to quality in the industry. The enterprise is engaged in the construction, operation and maintenance of cement plants, sugar plants and captive power plants across the world.
The Africa story
A defining chapter in Ganesh Kumar’s journey is his early and pioneering entry into African markets. Long before Africa emerged as a focus area for Indian infrastructure companies, he identified its potential in cement, power and industrial development. Today, his group operates in 21 African countries, contributing to industrial growth while creating employment for thousands. His Africa story goes beyond business expansion; it is about building trust in unfamiliar markets and exporting Indian engineering expertise to emerging economies.
Growing global footprint
Headquartered in Pune, for over four decades, the company has established a strong global presence, with permanent offices in the UAE, Bahrain, Nepal, and 21 countries across Africa. Currently, the group employs more than 6,000 people working on various projects, supported by a steady workforce of about 800. It executes business exceeding USD 100 million annually.
At any given time, more than 6,000 engineers, professionals, and workers are actively engaged in projects both in India and internationally. The company excels in executing complex industrial projects, even under challenging conditions.
Ganesh Kumar’s entrepreneurial ventures also expanded into the Middle East, where he co-founded Ayoki Contracting LLC in the UAE alongside Mohammed Shamsi, with K. Sanooj and V. Sabarinath as investors. Additionally, he ventured into investing in Fab Tech with Krishnankutty. The group has undertaken significant projects in the Gulf region, notably at Gulf Cement Company in Ras Al Khaimah and JK Cement Works in Fujairah. Currently, more than 1,000 workers from the group are actively involved in various projects throughout the UAE and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
National and global honours
Ayoki Fabricon has been honoured as one of the best enterprises in India’s construction sector. In 2016, Ganesh Kumar was named Manager of the Year by the Europe Business Assembly, Oxford, at the International Forum held in Bad Ems, Germany. In 2018, Ayoki Fabricon was selected among India’s Best 100 SMEs at the Axis Bank India SME 100 Awards, and was also named Best Service Exporter for 2016 and 2017 by CNBC TV.
In the same year, Ganesh Kumar received the Kairali NRK Entrepreneur Award 2018, recognising his success as a global Malayalee entrepreneur who built a multinational enterprise from Indian soil.
His expertise in cement technology led to another significant honour. The Government of Kerala invited him to serve on the Boards of Directors of Travancore Cements Ltd. and Malabar Cements, both state-owned public sector undertakings. These appointments reflected not only his technical knowledge but also the confidence reposed in him by public institutions.
Grit & worldwide reach
Beyond numbers, awards and turnover, Ganesh Kumar is known for three defining traits: quick decision-making, relentless hard work and exceptional travel discipline. He has travelled all over the world, personally overseeing projects, motivating teams and resolving issues on the ground. For him, leadership extends beyond boardrooms to construction sites, airport lounges and early-morning inspections.
Viewed in this context, his Limca Book of Records achievement becomes symbolic. It reflects not luxury, but extraordinary commitment. Each flight represents accountability, personal involvement and a determination to deliver. It tells the story of a leader who chose presence over paperwork and engagement over distance.
Ganesh Kumar represents another India — that of determined medium-scale entrepreneurs who build global businesses quietly, without headlines.
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