Dilip Surana: An Ingenious Trailblazer of Pharmaceutical Vertical Creating Milestones in the Industry

Fortune of a company hugely relies on the shoulder of its leader. It’s the leader’s vision that set the path of company and its future endeavors. Anyone can become a leader but to transform the face of the company needs greater zeal, diligence, and self-belief. One such astute leader who has crafted a niche in the market with his sharp business acumen and successful track record as an entrepreneur is Dilip G. Surana, the Chairman and Managing Director of Micro Labs, a prominent pharmaceutical company serving in India and abroad.
Dilip’s Journey towards Glory
He comes from a very humble background which reflects in his personality as well. Born in Bangalore, Dilip comes from a small place in Rajasthan, known as Balrai (Pali district). After completing schooling from the esteemed Bishop Cotton Boys High School in Bangalore, Dilip’s entrepreneurial instinct drove him to pursue Bachelor of Commerce (Accounts) from St. Joseph’s College of Commerce. His father, late C.M Surana (Founder of Micro Labs) left a deep impression on his soul to whom he revered the most. It was his father who saw a leader in him and fondly gave him the reins of Micro labs in 1983.
My father’s ability to pick up the chemistry of a drug was amazing. For him, there was no holiday. He lived and breathed business and inculcated the same values in us. Even during my high school days, he made sure I learn the trade, starting from the lowest rung”, asserts Dilip.
Since the last three decades, he has been running this organization and its stupendous success has proved his ace as an entrepreneurial mettle to the whole world. Today, Micro Labs is counted among the top pharmaceutical companies in India with an annual turnover of over 2700 crore, including exports that contribute 920 crores. Dilip’s rare feat led him to win many prestigious awards and recognition. In the past, he has held the 73rd position on Forbes magazine’s list of 100 most affluent Indians with an estimated net worth of over $1.3 billion.
His younger brother, Anand Surana also played a vital role in the success of this company. Anand joined Micro labs in 1993 and currently holds the Director’s position in Micro Labs. It is the vision and passion of these duos that Micro Labs is gaining prominence in the pharmaceutical world. They always work in tandem, and their ideas have assisted the company hugely. It was their artistic bent of mind which helped Micro Labs in becoming one of the few companies of the mid-1980’s to operate a separate strategic business unit that focused on areas such as cardiology, neurology, dermatology, and nephrology.
About the Company
Founded in 1973 under the visionary leadership of a business tycoon, late C.M Surana, Micro Lab too had a modest beginning with the manufacturing of ethical pharmaceutical preparations.
It was Surana’s perseverance and adept leadership quality that eventually drove Micro Lab towards the path of glory. Over the years, this pharmaceutical giant has reinforced its position as an industry leader and become a shining star of the pharmaceutical industry.
The foundation of the company was laid on the principles of delivering superior drug quality, maintaining reasonable business ethics, customer-focused approach, and respect for its people. Inculcation of these beliefs into the company’s core culture has propelled them to become a frontrunner in the pharmaceutical industry and today, it is known as a drug manufacturer of the highest quality that too at an affordable rate all across the globe.
Micro Lab is a multi-faceted organization which has 14 oral formulation plants including an injectable unit; a bulk drug facility, offices located overseas, and a secure distribution network. Their marketing team comprises of skilled professionals who serve across 20 marketing divisions such as Cardiology, Diabetology, Pain Management, Dermatology, Veterinary, Neurology and more. Each of its division has specialized personnel that caters to various therapeutic segments. Their proficient and dedicated human capitals of more than 9000 peoples are company’s real strength which Micro Lab feels to be proud of.
State of the art equipment’s, advanced R&D center, a skillful team of scientists; this is what makes Micro Labs a unique force which provides a conduced environment for innovative drug manufacturing.
The company is dedicated to developing cutting-edge pharmaceutical products while adhering to the highest quality standards established by a world-class research team. Their continuous strive for perfection has led them in pushing their standards of manufacturing by building state-of-the-art facilities. Today, these state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and infrastructure facilitate Micro’s Organic Growth in the regulated markets. This is the reason Micro Labs has been able to have an unbeaten run abroad through its world-class manufacturing units. Many of their facilities have been approved by the international food and drug administration as well which enhances their product acceptability into far deeper market worldwide. Food & Drugs Control Administration (FDA) the USA, World Health Organization (WHO), Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) the UK, Therapeutic Goods Authority (TGA) Australia and more are some of the regulatory agencies who are compliances Micro Labs follows religiously.
Micro Labs’ brand portfolio includes some of the leading brands in various specialties in the healthcare sector. Amidst their proud achievers is Dolo, an award-winning brand highly prescribed for fever management.
Dilip’s Role in Shaping Company’s Fortune
Under the astute leadership of Dilip, Micro Labs has grown many folds over the time and has become a  diversified pharmaceutical manufacturing company having products ranging from oral solids, oral liquids, to topical, and injectable.
The company is now highly recognized in the market for its innovative techniques for introducing various molecules in India. He is the brain behind crafting a world-class state-of-the-art research and manufacturing facilities covering Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and finished dosage forms as well as infrastructure for new drug discovery.
Dilip has been instrumental in setting up 14 state-of-the-art facilities for Micro Labs. These manufacturing units are designed to meet the current global standards of GMP and safety standards for personnel.
With Dilip’s efforts, today the company is committed to doing world-class research that develops bio-equivalent generics. The well-planned state-of-the-art facilities at Micro Labs have led to its accelerated growth in the pharmaceutical sector. It was his sharp business acumen that assisted the company is turning its financial fortunes in the balance sheet. Under his leadership, Micro Lab has grown from 30 crores in 1987 to 2700 crore, they have come a long way and continue to progress in leaps & bounds and carries zero debt on its balance sheet. Micro Labs has been aggressively investing to increase capacity and boost exports and is also planning to set up manufacturing units in the UAE and Indonesia.
His immense success and proficiency in pharmaceutical business have earned him a reputation as an industry veteran. He is a regular participant in various international seminars and summits relating to the pharmaceutical industry. “Through determination, grit, and a bit of luck anyone can overcome their circumstances and achieve extraordinary success,” asserts Dilip.
In his successful life, Dilip has won many praises and awards within the industry. Some of the notable ones are CEO of the Year, Asia’s most Admired Leader, Most Dynamic Entrepreneur of the Year and more presented by various prominent bodies.
Cares for the Underprivileged
Being a successful entrepreneur did not kill the sympathetic instinct in Dilip’s character. Helping the underprivileged inspires him and makes his conscience alive in this fast turning self-centric world. He is always at the forefront of social contribution, striving to be a model corporate citizen regarding social initiatives with significant contributions in the areas of education and health. He runs a GDA foundation since 1994, which includes educational institutions – an undergraduate college and a management college, besides helping several schools and hospitals.
It is Dilip’s effort that encourages Micro Labs to conducts various health camps, health recovery programs, free medical treatment camps and many other educational programs for patients and doctors. “It is our understanding that through our business we make a worthwhile contribution to the society by introducing new and advanced medicines in the market at affordable prices. Our effort is to establish benevolence and trust in people”, asserts Dilip Surana.
The Road Ahead
Dilip believes in working tirelessly to build a massive empire while staying out of the limelight. He is an epitome of success which is driving Micro Labs to become a global giant of pharmaceutical vertical. Dilip has set an ambitious goal of surpassing the sales over to $1 billion by 2020 and poised to achieve single status in the global pharmaceutical industry shortly! Being ambitious persona Dilip quotes, “Success doesn’t come to you unless you have to strive for it.
Source :-The 30 Most Powerful Men in Business