KS Narayanan was a distinguished entrepreneur marked by decades of management experience in diverse areas of industry, including Cement, Plastics, Sugar, Drugs and Pharmaceuticals, Shipping, Ceramic Insulators, Rubber, Calcium Carbide, etc. He was involved for many years as Promoter and Managing Director of The India Cements Ltd., the largest manufacturer of cement in South India. He was also Promoter Director of Chemplast Sanmar Limited, Sanmar Shipping Limited, WS Industries Ltd., Tamil Nadu Dadha Pharmaceuticals, etc.

Narayanan had been actively associated with business and industry associations. He was the Founder-President of Indo-American Chamber of Commerce – Southern Region (1969-70) and Past President of the Hindustan Chamber of Commerce (1975-76). He was also the Sheriff of Madras (1974). He was the Hony Consul of Denmark for South India (1975-88)

Narayanan was a generous hearted person known for his philanthropy. He had been involved in the management of several educational and charitable organisations including Indian Education Trust, Mrs Madhuram Narayanan Charitable Foundation, Sanmar Welfare Trust, Uttara Swamimalai Trust and several other trusts.

Narayanan had been a patron of tennis, cricket and various other sports. He was a Patron of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, the Tamil Nadu Tennis Association and a former President of Tirunelveli District Cricket Association.

K.S. Narayanan, Chairman Emeritus of The Sanmar Group, passed away on 28 September 2012. He was succeeded by his two sons, N. Sankar and N. Kumar, who took the reins of the Group and propelled it to new heights of success.