Manish Garg's Vertical Vision

At the heart of every great leader’s story lies a moment of return — a full-circle journey that redefines purpose and legacy. For Manish Garg, that moment came on 9 August 2021, when he once again stepped through the doors of Interarch Building Solutions, the company where his professional roots were first planted nearly three decades earlier. The date was no accident; it was a deliberate nod to the number nine — a personal talisman that has quietly marked pivotal moments in his career.

Garg’s relationship with Interarch began in 1994, when he joined as a young executive with big ideas and a sharp eye for systems. Over the course of 13 formative years, he helped shape the company’s early identity, embedding in him a deep appreciation for its culture and potential. But it was his time away — 14 years spent honing his skills at companies like India Gypsum (now Saint-Gobain Gyproc) and Everest Industries — that equipped him with the broader perspective needed to lead Interarch into its next chapter.

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“I’ve always believed in the power of timing,” Garg reflects during our conversation. “Coming back when I did — in the thick of global uncertainty — was challenging, yes, but it also offered a unique opportunity to rebuild with clarity and conviction.”

That conviction became the bedrock of his leadership. Appointed CEO at a time when many businesses were reeling from the effects of the pandemic, Garg faced a company that was searching for direction. His mission was clear: to instill confidence, streamline operations, and set a course for long-term sustainability.

Building Predictability in a Volatile World One of Garg’s first moves was to overhaul the company’s operational model. “In times of uncertainty, predictability becomes your greatest asset,” he says. “You can’t control the market, but you can control how you respond to it.”

This meant embedding scalable systems and processes that could accommodate both setbacks and surges. “We wanted a framework that wasn’t just reactive but proactive,” Garg explains. “We needed to build levers that we could adjust and monitor over time — not just quick fixes, but long-term mechanisms.”

Under his guidance, Interarch redefined its approach to planning, forecasting, and execution. Gone was the culture of hesitation; in its place, a mindset of agility and growth. “The company used to ask, ‘What if we fail?’” Garg recalls. “I flipped that question to, ‘What if we succeed?’ And more importantly, ‘Are we prepared for it?’”

The transformation wasn’t just operational — it was cultural. Garg focused on empowering teams with tools, data, and clarity. “Once people realize they have a system that can scale with them, fear gives way to ambition,” he notes. “That’s when innovation truly begins.”

Going Public: A Milestone Years in the Making Arguably the most defining moment of Garg’s return was leading Interarch Building Solutions through its initial public offering (IPO) — a milestone he had long envisioned. “An IPO is not just about raising capital,” he says. “It’s about transparency, governance, and maturity. It’s the moment a company truly steps onto the global stage.”

Having worked with other publicly listed companies earlier in his career, Garg understood the rigor required. “You can’t walk into an IPO with a weak story. Investors don’t invest in hope; they invest in proof,” he says.

To that end, he and his team spent months fine-tuning financial performance, strengthening compliance structures, and aligning internal operations with public market expectations. “It was intense, but it was also exhilarating. We weren’t just preparing a company for listing — we were preparing it for legacy.”

The IPO, completed in 2022, was a resounding success. More than just a financial achievement, it signaled a new chapter for Interarch — one marked by transparency, investor trust, and global visibility.

Leading with Vision, Not Just Strategy For Garg, leadership isn’t just about strategy — it’s about vision. “Strategy gets you from A to B,” he says. “Vision gets you from B to everywhere else.”

That vision includes expanding Interarch’s footprint in the global building solutions market, investing heavily in R&D, and integrating sustainability into every aspect of the business. “We’re not just building structures,” he says. “We’re enabling smarter, greener, and more efficient spaces.”

He also emphasizes the importance of nurturing the next generation of leaders. “A company is only as strong as its people. My job isn’t just to lead — it’s to lift others up.”

That philosophy is evident in Interarch’s increasingly collaborative culture, where innovation is rewarded and growth is shared. “We’re not just scaling the business,” Garg says. “We’re scaling our people.”

Looking Ahead: A Blueprint for the Future Today, three years into his second tenure, Garg is more optimistic than ever. Interarch has not only weathered turbulent times but emerged stronger, more agile, and more ambitious. “These years have been less about surviving and more about thriving,” he says. “We’ve turned challenges into catalysts.”

As he looks to the future, Garg is focused on deepening market penetration, embracing digital transformation, and staying ahead of industry trends. “The building solutions space is evolving rapidly. We can’t afford to be passive observers — we have to be active architects of change.”

And with the same deliberate precision that marked his return on 9 August 2021, Garg is laying the foundation for what comes next — one calculated step at a time.

In a world where leadership is often measured in quarterly results, Manish Garg stands apart — a visionary who understands that true success is built not in moments, but in movements. At Interarch, he’s not just leading a company; he’s shaping an industry.*