LtCdr. Neelesh Naik (Retd) joined the National Defence Academy in July 96 and was commissioned into the Navy on the 1st of July 2000. He took premature retirement on the 30th of September 09 to join the family business. As a cadet, he was awarded the FOCINC (South) rolling trophy for Best Cadet in Academic, Professional and Intellectual fields. He has been the Navigating Officer of two Missile Corvettes and a Minesweeper. He served as Flag Lieutenant to the Flag Officer Sea Training and held command of a Fast Patrol Vessel ICGS C133. In his first independent appointment, he was charged with commissioning a new warship (the missile corvette INS Pralaya). As a Lieutenant, he was engaged in counter-terror operations and seaborne security off the coast of Gujarat. As CO of ICGS C133, he was able to successfully conduct a SAR Operation which resulted in the rescue of fifty-two survivors of a collision between a naval warship and a tanker in stormy waters. He received a Commendation from the Director-General Coast Guard for his determination and courage during the rescue operations.Upon retirement from the Nay, he joined the family business of automobile dealerships. The group operated dealerships of Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Lancer, & Maruti Suzuki. He expanded the business by starting new dealerships for Tata Motors, India’s first Fiat brand showcase the Fiat Café, India’s first Piaggio Vespa dealership, and Mahindra Two Wheelers. In the year 2013, faced with an economic slowdown, the company closed down all of its dealerships to focus on more profitable business ventures.He is a Director on the board of NERIL, an environmental consultancy that focuses on marine and river valley ecologies. The company has completed over 65 projects in the sphere of environmental consultancy in varied landscapes and conditions; from the forests of the Himalayan ranges to the Indian Ocean and in some of India’s most famous rivers, including Sutlej, Beas, Godavari, Krishna, Narmada and Tapi. The latest being the electrification of Gharapuri (Elephanta Island) by laying 28 kilometres of submarine cables. For this project, he designed a cable laying plough. This marked the first-ever successful cable laying operation in India using such a methodology.He is now driving the latest foray of the group into real estate and hospitality with an aim to create landmark destinations in the city of Pune. The twin projects “The Hamlet -Theur” and “The Lancers Club” aim to be the regions finest gated community and the first health and wellness club with a focus on sports.