Leadership Awards 18 Years in the Making

For more than 18 years, Sreejeeth S. Menon has turned opportunities into growth across the Middle East and Africa. Today, as Business Development Manager & Product Manager – MEA at dormakaba, he has been recognised as Most Strategic Business Development Leader 2026 (Middle East & Africa) and Integrated Access Solutions Provider of the Year 2026 (Middle East & Africa).

For Sreejeeth S. Menon, business development has never been simply about selling. It is about seeing opportunity early, connecting the right people and technology, and turning ideas into sustainable business.

That approach has helped him build markets, develop strategic partnerships, and pursue multimillion-dollar opportunities across the MEA region. As Business Development Manager & Product Manager – MEA at dormakaba, a global leader in the access solutions market, Sreejeeth’s role sits at the intersection of technology, people, and opportunity.

His journey began with a passion for electronics and a belief that technology should solve real problems. With qualifications in engineering and business management, he went on to work with products from global brands including Bosch, Philips, Tyco, and LG Electronics, before joining Allegion.

In 2017, Sreejeeth joined dormakaba, initially focusing on hospitality solutions before expanding into business development for access control across the Middle East and Africa. Today, hospitality remains at the heart of his work, while his focus extends across healthcare, airports, data centres, and critical infrastructure.

However, technology and commercial results tell only part of the story. Throughout his career, five values have shaped the way Sreejeeth leads: curiosity, courage, perseverance, gratitude, and accountability.

Curiosity keeps him learning, courage helps him make difficult decisions, perseverance keeps him moving when the path gets tough, gratitude keeps him grounded, and accountability means standing behind every commitment and outcome.

As Sreejeeth puts it: “Leadership is more than achieving numbers. Stay curious. Have the courage to decide. Persevere when things get difficult. Be grateful for the people who walk the journey with you. And above all, take ownership of what you promise and what you deliver.”

This philosophy is reflected in how he works with customers, partners, and teams. He believes that being present, listening carefully, and staying involved when challenges arise builds trust which is something far more valuable than a transaction.

That trust has led to repeat relationships with major hotel chains and continued engagement across hospitality, airports, data centres, and other major institutions. For Sreejeeth, longstanding relationships with loyal customers are one of the strongest measures of success. He said: “When customers come back to you with their next project, their next challenge, or their next opportunity, that says more than any written testimonial.”

Continuous learning has been another constant throughout his career. As markets expand, technology advances, and customer expectations change, Sreejeeth believes leaders must be willing to evolve with them, without losing sight of the fundamentals.

The next chapter of access is already taking shape as connected ecosystems, cloud platforms, AI, mobile technologies, and cybersecurity are rapidly changing how people think about physical access. Sreejeeth shared: “Technology will continue to change, but its value comes from solving real customer problems. My focus is to connect innovation with market needs and turn that connection into meaningful business outcomes.”

His advice to future leaders is equally simple: keep learning, make decisions, don’t fear difficult periods, value the people around you, and own the outcome. For Sreejeeth, leadership is not measured only by how far you go but also how many people you enable to move forward with you.

Recognised as Most Strategic Business Development Leader 2026 (Middle East & Africa) and Integrated Access Solutions Provider of the Year 2026 (Middle East & Africa), Sreejeeth Menon, Business Development Manager & Product Manager – MEA at dormakaba, represents a leadership journey built on technical knowledge, business insight, regional experience, and the determination to keep evolving.

After more than 18 years, this recognition marks an important milestone. However, for Sreejeeth, the journey is far from finished.