After graduating in
Chemistry in 1987, and a two-year stint in
the Indian IT Industry, Harish moved to Abu
Dhabi as a Marketing Executive for a Reseller
of Personal Computers. He soon established
an excellent and loyal customer base and gained
a very good understanding of the Abu Dhabi
market. Harish, had always nurtured an ambition
of starting a venture on his own and in 1992
created a start up operation - Paramount Computer
Systems - focused on the sales and support
of PCs, peripherals and packaged software.
From this humble beginning he spearheaded
the growth of the company to 15 people and
a very credible customer base including Etisalat,
ADCO, ADIC among others.
In 1997, Harish created
a Dubai operation for the company and quickly
understood the government moves, in the E-Commerce
arena. He strategized the diversification
of PCS into the Information Security Space
in 1999. This bold foray involved the Distributor
Relationship creation with world leaders like
Trend Micro, RSA, Websense, and ISS among
others, almost every one entering the UAE
for the first time. Harish himself secured
Certification as a BS 7799 Lead Assessor and
ensured that Paramount became the first BS
7799 Certified IT Company in the Middle East.
This was followed by the ISO 9001:2000 Certification
for the company in 2002. Harish is of the
firm belief that Methodology atop a knowledge
base is the best guarantee for sustained performance
in the IT Services Industry. Harish responded
to the clarion call of the Dubai Government
in 2001 and set up a Paramount operation at
DIC. He used this office to launch Joint Venture
Operations in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait,
and Qatar and is working on an ambitious growth
agenda for Paramount.
Forging Partnerships,
sustaining credible customer relationships,
strategizing and people management are Harish's
core competencies. The success of Paramount
and the recognition from leading customers
is eloquent testimony to Harish's entrepreneurial
zeal, focus and dedication.
 |
Premchand
Kurup
CEO |
Premchand Kurup has over
22 years industry experience, including 15
years in the management of Technology dominant
businesses. His expertise encompasses Strategy
Consulting, Corporate sales and channel management,
Startup & Profit center Management and
Sales Training. Strong conceptual and strategizing
ability coupled with result orientation and
organization-building focus has been the hallmark
of Premchand's career in the Gulf. In April
2000, he spearheaded MMI's foray in to the
technology arena with integrated ERP-CRM-SCM
Solutions, built a solid organization in 18
months, with an impressive client base and
human capital, and then orchestrated the sale
of the company to a large Saudi Business Enterprise.
In 1993 Premchand created
a startup company in the UAE for a Bahraini
national, focused on Bar Code based data capture
solutions, achieved market leadership with
world renowned brands - Symbol & Zebra
by 1997 and significantly grew revenue &
profitability year on year until his departure
in March 2000. Data Capture Systems the company
he helped create, continues to be the market
leader in the niche area. Premchand headed
the marketing operation of COMPIN focused
on mainline IT when he first arrived in Dubai
in 1989. Prior to this he was Regional Dealer
Sales Manager for WIPRO with complete responsibility
of the PC business through Partners in South
India. The Seven-year stint in WIPRO infused
in him the fundamentals of value based Business
Leadership.
A prolific speaker
Premchand has spoken at several local and
international symposiums in Dubai, Abu Dhabi,
India and the US. He graduated with Honours
in Electronic & Communication Engineering
in 1982 from the University of Madras.