Mr. K. R. Naik
Father of India’s IT Networking Industry | Chairman & Founder, Digisol Systems Ltd.
Father of India’s IT Networking Industry | Chairman & Founder, Digisol Systems Ltd. Kamlaksha Rama Naik, widely known as K. R. Naik, is an Indian industrial engineer and a veteran of the IT networking industry with over five decades of pioneering experience. He is widely acclaimed as the Father of India’s IT Networking Industry for his instrumental role in creating the IT networking market and establishing a robust channel ecosystem in the country.
Mr. Naik has been at the forefront of India’s technology growth since the 1970s, spearheading businesses, shaping distribution models, and introducing some of the world’s most recognized IT brands to India. He is credited with establishing Smartlink Network Systems Ltd., India’s first indigenous IT networking company, which continues to stand as a local manufacturing success story for over three decades
In 1993, Mr. Naik established a state-of-the-art manufacturing unit in Goa under Smartlink. Two years later, he entered into a joint venture with global leader D-Link Corporation, forming D-Link India, with a Goa-based manufacturing facility and a corporate office in Mumbai. Under his leadership, India witnessed the introduction of global IT brands such as Cisco, D-Link, Foundry, Lanner, and Gigabyte, alongside his own robust manufacturing and R&D operations.He further strengthened India’s IT backbone by launching Digilink, a brand dedicated to passive networking (Structured Cabling Systems). In 2008, following a demerger with the JV partner, the company refocused on indigenous businesses under Smartlink. A year later, Mr. Naik introduced Digisol, a proudly Indian brand offering active networking solutions, reinforcing his vision of creating Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) digital infrastructure.
Born on November 19, 1947, in Karwar, Karnataka, Mr. Naik completed his schooling in Karwar before moving to Mumbai. He graduated as a Mechanical Engineer, pursued a Post Graduate Diploma in Industrial Engineering, and earned a Licentiate in Plastic Engineering. He also completed a Business Management Program from the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai, sponsored by IBM.Mr. Naik began his professional journey with IBM India in 1969 as a Mainframe Peripheral Assembly Engineer. Over time, he worked in diverse functions including product design and development, and in 1977 contributed to the development of an indigenous line printer at IBM’s “Big Blue” center. Following IBM’s exit from India
In 1978, he joined ORG Systems Ltd., where he was part of a six-member team that developed India’s first indigenous line printers capable of 1000+ lines per minute.In 1984, he founded Virtual Computer Pvt. Ltd., becoming one of the first to import wave-soldering machines to manufacture printed circuit boards for PCs in India. In 1993, he established Smartlink in Goa with SMT line manufacturing facilities, which later grew into a landmark joint venture with D-Link Corporation in 1995. Following the separation in 2009, the company was rebranded as Smartlink once again, and today continues to flourish under his leadership.
Currently, Mr. Naik serves as the Executive Chairman of Smartlink and is also the Chairman & Founder of Digisol Systems Ltd., his flagship Indian brand. Beyond business, he has also contributed to industry advocacy as the former President of the Manufacturers’ Association for Information Technology (MAIT).With his visionary leadership, pioneering initiatives, and relentless commitment to building indigenous capabilities, Mr. K. R. Naik remains one of the most respected architects of India’s IT networking landscape.