Narayana Murthy is chairman of Asia Biz Council
Beijing: Infosys Technologies' founder N R Narayana Murthy has taken over as chairman of the prestigious Asia Business Council (ABC).

The Asia Business Council announced key leadership changes at its Spring Forum held in Hong Kong on March 15-17, according to a press release.

Murthy, who had been vice chairman of the Council, replaces Stan Shih, the former chairman and CEO of Acer who is now group chairman of iD Softcapital. Shih remains as a Council member.

China Merchants Group chairman Qin Xiao replaces Murthy as vice chairman.

The editor-in-chief of Hong Kong's leading newspaper, the South China Morning Post, Mark Clifford has joined the Council as executive director.

The council conducts research and holds members-only forums on subjects such as corporate social responsibility, intellectual property rights, education and human resources.
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Younger generation takes over at Siyaram
Mumbai: A flux is happening at the Rs 1,500 crore Siyaram group where the next generation of the Poddar family is taking charge.

Pawan Poddar chairman of Siyaram Silk Mills has been joined by his son Avnish and his late brother Pramod Poddar's son Gaurav.

Arvind Poddar chairman of Balkrishna Industries, maker of tractor tyres ahs inducted Rajeev Poddar into the company while Rahul Poddar son Vinod Poddar the chairman of Govind Rubber, the Rs 280 crore rickshaw tyre maker has also joined his father's company.

In 1940 brothers Dhara Prasad, Mahavir Prasad and Ram Prasad opened a rubber factory in south Mumbai's Dockyard Road.

Dharaprasad had four sons Ramesh, Pawan, Pramod and Kishan, of whom Pramod has passed away. Mahavir Prasad had three sons Suresh, Vinod and Arvind of whom Suresh is no more.
The textile business was launched in 1978. Ramprasad's family separated from the business in 1998, walking away with Vinakaya Synthetics.

The Poddars have now restructured the managements of the three group companies. While the textile business is managed by the sons of Dharaprasad Poddar, the rubber businesses are in the hands of the two sons of late Mahavirprasad Poddar.

However, both branches of the family continue to hold equal stakes in all the three group companies. The promoter holding stands at 65 per cent for Siyaram, 54 per cent for Balkrishna and 55 per cent for Govind Rubber.

The Poddars have also drawn up an expansion plan for their textile businesses, while Balkrishna Industries sold a 7.43 per cent stake to private equity firms Evercore and Chryscapital last year to fund its expansion plans.
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