He is described as a philanthropist and engineer-industrialist. He has accuracy of an engineer, foresight of a businessman, and yet the heart of a philanthropist. He understands his core-competency in business, but loves to touch areas like creating education and sports infrastructure. Today, Dr. A. C. Muthiah heads the Southern Petrochemical Industries Corporation (SPIC), which is among the largest industrial conglomerates in the country with diversified business interests. SPIC was founded in 1969 by the Dr. M. A. Chidambaram. After his death, his son A. C. Muthiah took over as the Chairman and charted a growth course that has seen the group achieving one success after another.

SPIC, today, is a multi-product, multifaceted conglomerate. It is ranked among India's top 10 industrial houses in terms of assets and turnover. SPIC's interests are diverse, covering many core business viz., petrochemicals, power, agro-inputs, biotech, project management services, heavy chemicals, drugs, pharmaceuticals, aquaculture, electronics and allied areas such as detergents. Born on February 15, 1941, Muthiah did his Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Madras. Later, he completed an advanced management course at the University of Detroit. Apart from his work in SPIC, Muthiah is associated with several organisations both in India and abroad in various leadership capacities. He served as the chairman of First Leasing Company of India Ltd apart from serving as a member of the Prime Minister's advisory council on trade and industry and as the president of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FICCI).

For the cricket fans, he has another identify. In fact, he was also the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Muthiah, like his father, believes in providing education for excellence. The M. A .Chidambaram College of Nursing, Vocational Training Institutes at Tuticorin and Konapet, a modern training centre at Spic Nagar, a management school at Chennai and the School of Mathematical Research have all blossomed under his leadership. SPIC is a major contributor for setting up 'bio-tech' courses at Anna University. SPIC runs a science foundation where pharmaceutical, biotech and chemical research activities are undertaken. Muthiah's vision has resulted in a premier engineering institute at Chennai - Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering (SVCE).

SVCE has blossomed into one of the top three institutions in Tamil Nadu in a span of just 15 years. The alumni of SVCE are much sought after by companies in India and the US. Some of them are first generation entrepreneurs at a very young age. More alumni of SVCE are working in the US than in India. Anna University, which is one of the oldest and internationally renowned engineering universities in the country, conferrred on Muthiah an Honorary (Honoris Causa) in Science in February 1992. He was also conferred Rotary International District Vocational Services Award for outstanding efforts in business ethics in the year 1999. From hard maths of industrial turnover and profits to bounces in BCCI, Muthiah has played a Dravid's innings-elegant and full of consistency.