Cheril Krishna Menon popularly known as C K Menon has been a prominent Non-Resident Indian entrepreneur (NRI) in the GCC region for more than 35 years now.Actively involved in an array of businesses across the GCC states, UK, Sudan and South America, Menon is currently the chairman and Managing Director of Doha headquartered Behzad Group of Companies, which has diverse business and commercial activities in Qatar and neighbouring Gulf states.
The group's companies are mainly involved in fuel transportation by land and sea through it has high stakes in such businesses as steel manufacturing, marketing of engineering machinery and equipment and distribution of car accessories among other activities.
A well-known philanthropist, who has to his credit numerous noble initiatives and contributions to improve the living conditions of the needy and deserving sections in the Indian community, Menon has made his services accessible to large segments of such groups over the years.
Menon who was conferred upon with the Indian civilian award "Padma shri" in recognition of his humanitarian and charitable deeds in 2009, had also been similarly honoured with Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, a recognition usually given by Government of India for Non Resident Indians rendering distinguished services abroad.
In recognition of his noble gesture in building a mosque for Muslim faithful of Mokeri in Kerala’s Kannur district, Menon was honoured by Qatar Government’s widely acclaimed Doha International Center for Inter-faith Dialogue (DICID) with a special award, plaque and citation in March 2012. Incidentally Menon is the first Asian resident in Qatar to be honored with the DICID recognition.
Born to Puliyamkott Narayanan Nair and Cheril Karthyayani Amma in 1949 in Kerala's Thrissur, Menon had his early education in Thrissur's CMS School and later at St Thomas College and Sree Kerala Varma College (SKVC) in his home town. Narayanan Nair was a well-known businessman and fleet operator, boasting more than 20 private buses bearing the name "Sree Ramajayam" in those days when much of the public transportation in Kerala was through road.After graduating from SKVC, Menon successfully graduated in law from Jabalpur and followed it up with a two-year practice stint in Kerala High Court until the mid 70s when he decided to move to Qatar in search of greener pastures.
Overcoming the tough initial years in the region through his grit, determination and hard work, backed by enormous faith in the almighty, Menon made forays into the business after a few years of service with his initial sponsor Late Ali Hussain Bahzad and Later Ali Bin Naser Al Misnad is captaining a number of firms these days across the region and beyond its boundaries.