President — Mr. K. Narayanan

Profile: Mr. K. Narayanan brings over a decade of comprehensive experience across the full value chain of the furniture manufacturing and interior industry. His career spans leadership roles in distribution, manufacturing support, cluster development, material innovation, and institutional collaboration. He has worked extensively with government bodies, research institutions, and industry groups to advance sustainable materials, productivity enhancement, and industry modernization.

Professional Experience: Resident Director – Kerala Furniture Consortium Pvt. Ltd. (A Government of India & Government of Kerala–supported initiative)
a) Managed large-scale development programs aimed at strengthening Kerala’s furniture industry cluster.

b) Led the Design Clinic Programme in collaboration with the National Institute of Design (NID) and the National Productivity Council, supporting design-led innovation for furniture manufacturers.

c) Facilitated access to multiple government grants and schemes for establishing a Common Facilities Centre (CFC) and expanding market linkages.

d) Coordinated closely with Government departments, industry associations, and national institutions to implement capability enhancement initiatives.

Industry Contributions & Innovations:
a) Sustainable Material Development: Pioneered the development of Coir Ply in collaboration with NIIST–CSIR and the Coir Board, offering a sustainable alternative to rainforest hardwoods & played a key role in the
evolution of Coir Plastic Composite (CPC), a major innovation in eco friendly furniture materials.

b) Standardization
Initiatives: Developed a comprehensive standardization process for Rubber Wood, working in association with the Rubber Research Institute (RRI) of the Rubber Board.

Entrepreneurial Leadership: Founder & Proprietor – Furniture Distribution Enterprise
a) Successfully managed an independent furniture distribution company for several years.
b) Supplied a broad range of wooden and steel furniture to retailers across Kerala.

National-Level Coordination & Cluster Development:
a) Coordinated the Innovation Programme of the National Innovation Council, Government of India, focusing on technology adoption in the furniture sector.

b) Played an instrumental role in the declaration of the Ernakulam Furniture Cluster as an “Innovative Cluster” by the Ministry of MSME.

Organizational Leadership Roles
a) President – Innovative Management Consultants (Trust): Leading a registered service provider trust focused on capacity building, consultancy, and knowledge transfer for industry stakeholders.

b) Promoter Director – Farmnet Agro Farmer Producer Company Ltd. (Palakkad District): Supporting farmer-driven value chain development and rural entrepreneurship.

c) Kerala State Chapter Coordinator – Vibha India Society: A national consortium of 1200+ NGOs active across 18+ States