Gayatri Nair

Partner & Managing Director ECL Shipping India Pvt Ltd

Gayatri Nair leads ECL Shipping India Pvt Ltd as Partner and Managing Director, bringing over a decade of expertise in breakbulk.

A business school graduate , she made an unconventional entry into maritime through Puyvast Maritime India, a Dutch Indian Breakbulk operator , rising from Manager to General Manager, Marketing before becoming a partner in ECL India.

Her leadership style is built on a simple formula, know your business deeply, deliver consistently, and let your work do the talking.

Early in her career, being young and female in a traditional industry meant she had to earn credibility meeting by meeting. She did and what initially surprised people became her competitive edge.

She's also intentional about developing talent, with women now heading her project cargo desk, steel cargo operations, and DA desk. For her, it's straightforward, competence has no gender.
On balancing a demanding career with motherhood, she's refreshingly practical. She credits a strong support system and believes asking for help isn't weakness, it's smart. No leader succeeds alone.

Gayatri represents a new generation in shipping; strategic, grounded, and comfortable in her authority. She and along with ECL Group continues to champion visibility and opportunity for women in maritime not through loud advocacy, but by building an organisation that reflects what's possible.