News makers:
By | 16 Oct 2000
In full page advertisements issued in
leading publications, the company has announced that it has retained the services of Dr
Sanjay Govindjee, a world-renowned engineering consultant to help us in this effort.
It is understood that Dr. Govindjee, who serves as a consultant to government agencies and
private corporations, has conducted a detailed review of the company’s Akron
technical centre and its manufacturing plants. He has been provided with tyre analysis and
test data from these facilities. He, in turn, will provide periodic updates that Firestone
plans to make public.
Dr Govindjee, who received his
bachelor’s degree in science in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology and master’s degree in science from Stanford University;
holds a doctorate degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford.
Naina Lal Kidwai, Asia’s third-most powerful woman
New Delhi: From
the ramps to the financial world, Indian women seem to be making their mark with
increasing regularity.
Global business magazine, which has ranked 50 most powerful businesswomen in the US and
the top six in Asia and Europe, has two Indian-born women in the hallowed list.
Ms. Naina Lal Kidwai, 43, the first Indian
woman to study at Harvard and currently head of M&A for Morgan Stanley in the country,
is ranked the third most powerful Asian businesswoman. India-born PepsiCo's chief
financial officer Ms. Indra Nooyi, 45, is ranked at No. 43 on the American list.
According to the magazine: "Ms. Naina Lal Kidwai has ridden a flair for numbers to
become India's most important investment banker in its most important investment bank in
what may become its most important industry --information technology."
Ms. Indra Nooyi, who is a key advisor to chief executive Roger Enrico, has also been
acknowledged for her work as senior vice-president and chief financial officer, PepsiCo.
The top businesswoman in the US,
predictably, is Ms. Carly Fiorina, president and chief executive of, Hewlett-Packard, who
has retained her numero uno position. In Asia, the top businesswoman is 46 year old Ms.
Mari Matsunaga, who designed i-mode, the astonishingly successful mobile-phone Internet
service. Ms. Matsunaga has recently jointly formed an Internet startup called E-woman, of
which she is editor-in-chief.
In Europe, 53 year old Ms. Marjorie Scardino, chief executive officer, Pearson -- which
owns the Financial Times -- has been voted the top businesswoman.
17 October 2000
GP Goenka finalises
succession plan, son to take over
Calcutta: In keeping with the long standing tradition of
Indian business families, Calcutta-based GP Goenka has handed over his Rs. 3,000-crore
empire to his 25-year old son, Shrivardhan, who is currently studying at the
Kellogg’s School of Management.
Mr. Goenka plans to keep off from the management of the companies in the group, since he
is not a believer in running companies with himself as chairman and his son the
vice-chairman.
The companies under the Duncan Goenka Group, which is closely working with management guru
Sumantra Ghoshal on a restructuring plan, include flagship Duncans Industries with a
turnover of Rs 1,135 crore on March 31, 2000, Stone India, Star Paper (Rs 165 crore),
Andhra Cement (Rs 114 crore), Consolidated Fibres & Chemicals (Rs 140 crore) and
National Rayon (Rs 333 crore). The Herdillia group of companies, few investment companies,
Bakelite Hylam, Duncan Gleneagles Hospital, National Standard Duncan and Gujarat Carbon
also form part of the group.
Awasthi calls it a day at Daewoo
New Delhi: The high-profile Mr. SG Awasthi, who was instrumental in building the
brand for Daewoo Motors, has finally called it a day at the company. Industry sources cite
serious differences between Mr. Awasthi and the Korean management on the current
restructuring at the company, to be the cause for his departure.
The company is also trying to reduce its labour force by around 15 per cent. Inside
sources state that the constant tussle between the Korean management, which wanted to keep
the prices of its vehicles high, and Mr. Awasthi, who prevailed on them to reduce the
prices in the interest of market share, also took its toll.
Awasthi's exit marks the end of a 16-year association with the company, which began as DCM-Toyota in 1984 and metamorphosed into DCM-Daewoo and then into Daewoo Motors (India).
