Venkat Raman –
venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz
Relianz Forex Limited (now Relianz Group), which has registered impressive growth since its establishment in 2009, launched into travel business earlier this month, offering tickets and other related services through its branches in Auckland and Wellington.
Announcing the move at the Seventh Anniversary celebrations held at Langham Hotel on June 3, 2016, V Giridharan, Director of the Group described the new business as ‘a landmark in his life and that of Relianz.’
“Whatever we do, we want to bring smiles into people’s lives and the launch of Travel would open the frontiers to contribute to explore the most exciting and amazing experiences that this world has to offer,” he said, addressing his employees and invited guests at the celebrations.
He said that he commenced his career more than 30 years ago in his native Hyderabad in India with Thomas Cook, one of the most popular travel and money exchange companies of the time.
Celebrating opportunity
“The success of Relianz is not only the success of its founders but also a celebration of the opportunity that New Zealand provides everyone who has made it their home. For a first generation entrepreneur, it is a daunting task and a great challenge but we have moved on from a two-member team to an 18 strong force,” he said.
Writing in Indian Newslink (June 15, 2015), Dev Nadkarni, a celebrated journalist, currently employed as Marketing & Communications Manager at Pacific Islands Trade & Invest based in Auckland, had said that Relianz Forex Limited has carved a niche for itself as a reliable provider of money transfer, money exchange and wire transfer services.
He was the Master of Ceremonies at the Sixth Anniversary celebrations held on June 3, 2015 at Hilton Hotel in Auckland.
“In essence, the Company has lived up to its name, promoting the best interests of customers, complying in the process, with the rules and regulations in force,” he had said.
Mr Nadkarni was the Master of the Ceremonies at this year’s event as well and his comments about Relianz continue to hold currency.
“The Company’s sharp focus has always been on customer service. Business ethics, integrity and honesty have been the principle factors that have accentuated its impressive growth since its establishment. With well-placed management principles, professional approach to business and easy accessibility, Relianz Forex has become a household name in Auckland’s South Asian community,” he had said.
Man of Vision
Relianz is essentially a brainchild of Mr Giridharan and he remains at the core of its operations and decision-making, but he willingly accords the credit for the company’s enviable success to his staff, particularly to Meghna Daiya, who has been with Relianz since the beginning and Manoj.
Mr Giridharan can be safely credited with a number of ‘Firsts,’ the foremost of which is that Relianz stopped accepting cash and insisted on only credit or debit cards for money transfer and exchange services, long before it became a part of the regulatory regime in New Zealand.
“Foreign Exchange business is high risk and we believe that our responsibility is high. We have been proactive in our approach and though the ‘Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act’ became effective in July 2013, we have been very strict in our compliance since we commenced operations in 2009. We have invested in technology, have effective risk mitigation policy and procedures, annual audits and conduct training programs for every team member,” he said.
Wellington Branch
He remains the first and only person in this business with a passion to expand, diversify and offer innovative services. The decision to open the Wellington branch (within the prestigious Old Shopping Arcade) last year was one of them.
The Branch, which opened its account on August 21, 2015, is seen as an important development in the history of the Company.
There is a certain passion that fires the enthusiasm in Mr Giridharan and this Reporter is aware of the struggles and challenges that he faced when he entered in what was stated to be an overcrowded currency exchange market.
It was that passion that set self-assigned goals and targets which Relianz Forex has been surpassing year after year.
He is justifiably proud of his Company, its people and its customers.
Good Corporate Citizen
“Relianz is still small but a very responsible corporate citizen that stands for sound principles of transparency, integrity and responsibility. We are motivated, passionate, proactive and always striving for growth. We are profitable and successful,” he said.
“We have begun to mark June 3 as an annual event to celebrate our anniversary and a reminder of the great contribution of the past and existing members of the company.
Among those present at the celebrations were former Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister, Member of Parliament and Auckland Mayoral candidate Phil Goff, Members of Parliament Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi (National), Mahesh Bindra (New Zealand First) and Ravi Gnanadickam, who trained and initiated Mr Giridharan into the business.
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