ABOUT US

Ajoy Chawla (TAS 1990)

Chief Strategy Officer, Titan Company Ltd.

Your fondest memory as a young TAS manager…
My engagement with TMTC, Pune – from probation till date. The ambience, people, hospitality, learning, and teaching opportunities are all truly memorable.

Which was the most challenging yet fulfilling project?
As the Global Business Head of a large and profitable brand, TITAN, I had to simultaneously grow the dominant domestic business profitably, while revitalising the brand (TITAN) to make it more modern and premium. As part of that journey, restaging RAGA and building it into an iconic Indian women’s watch brand was the most fulfilling!

If you were to name a few challenges, they would be..
Shaping the Chief Strategy Officer role so as to add value to the divisions and to the CEO is an internal challenge. Business incubation needs talented and entrepreneurial individuals who are comfortable with ambiguity, are experimentative and agile, besides having a sharp business acumen. Bringing in such talent and ensuring a culture that nurtures such individuals is a key challenge.

In your spare time, you like to..
Travel, play tennis, read about human psychology, and get a scientific understanding of esoteric practices. I also like to mentor and teach.

The one thing you’d have liked to do differently?
Would like to have paid a lot more attention to topics like Organisation Behaviour, HR and EQ from campus days. Though they are often underrated, they are quite critical. On a personal note, wish I had started learning Tennis or Golf early on when I was in my mid-thirties. Would have been a proficient player by now!

Your message to the youth of today?
Be humble, open to learning and committed to delivering excellence; success will follow.

Ajoy Misra (TAS 1980)

MD & CEO, Tata Global Beverages Ltd.

Your fondest memory as a young TAS manager…
I remember feeling a sense of extreme exhilaration. I felt that the world was at my feet and anything I set my mind on could be achieved.

Which was the most challenging yet fulfilling project?
Bringing to India its first authentic Thai restaurant that till date remains the finest Thai cuisine restaurant, which is located at Vivanta by Taj- President. The experience and satisfaction of having created something from scratch has been unparalleled even today.

If you were to name a few challenges, they would be..
Growing the company globally, both by enhancing our existing base and looking at new avenues for growth. Keeping abreast with the latest trends in the consumer space and digital transformations. Thinking differently to meet the larger organisational objective.

In your spare time, you like to..
Read about trends and developments that are aligned to or influenced by FMCG, and also about strategy and learnings from companies that successfully implement something differently.

The one thing you’d have liked to do differently?
It would perhaps have been more beneficial for me to have moved through more Tata companies in my journey of 36 years. Although, I got a wide variety of experiences at IHCL, spending 30+ years in one company limited my exposure to the wide range of companies in the Tata group.

Your message to the youth of today?
Don’t limit yourself – no work is too small and no ambition is too big.

Govind Sankaranarayan (TAS 1992)

COO (Retail & Housing Finance), Tata Capital Ltd.

Your fondest memory as a young TAS manager…
Meeting my wife, who was also in TAS, in Tata Tea.

Which was the most challenging yet fulfilling project?
Being part of the founding team of Tata Capital, a startup in a competitive space and bringing it to a size of Rs. 50,000 crores today.

If you were to name a few challenges, they would be..
Motivating a large pan India team to be creative while lending to millions of non-banking customers, and also balancing the need to be judicious in the way they do this.

In your spare time, you like to..
Spend time with my 18-year-old twins, playing tennis (they beat me now) and swimming (I still beat them). I like discovering new musicians and reading lots of books.

The one thing you’d have liked to do differently?
Since I spent five years (1995 to 2000) in roles where there were few colleagues of my age, I wish I could have worked with a larger peer group. It’s possible that I would have had even more fun then.

Your message to the youth of today?
Stay the course - there are relatively few careers like the TAS, if you are willing to give enough time.

Jamshed S Daboo (TAS 1986)

MD and CEO-Trent Hypermarket Pvt. Ltd.

Your fondest memory as a young TAS manager…
Having dinner with JRD Tata, Jamshed Bhabha and Xerxes Desai at the West End hotel, Bangalore. They made me feel so special and that's when I truly understood and imbibed what Tata stood for, at a deeply personal level.

Which was the most challenging yet fulfilling project?
Implementing the ERP system at Titan way back in the late 1990's. That’s when I learnt the true value of leadership support (Mr. Desai and Bhaskar backed me to the hilt) and experienced the joys and pains of managing a mass-scale change.

If you were to name a few challenges, they would be..
Attracting and nurturing talented colleagues to deliver our customer promise. The potential is huge and what's exciting is that it can easily be converted into an opportunity.

In your spare time, you like to..
Play tennis, read (from history to quantum physics), and help my wife's NGO.

The one thing you’d have liked to do differently?
I should have sought sustained international exposure early in my career.

Your message to the youth of today?
Do what you like doing, do it well and keep learning. The future will take care of itself.

Masood Hussainy (TAS 1999)

Vice President & Head-Aerostructures, Tata Advanced Systems Ltd.

Your fondest memory as a young TAS manager…
Getting my appointment letter from Mr. Bhupen Chakravarti, the doyen of TAS, and signing it then and there because I thought they might change their mind if I took my time to accept the offer!

Which was the most challenging yet fulfilling project?
To set up the Sikorsky S-92 Helicopter aerostructures manufacturing operations. At that time, Tata Advanced Systems had zero aerospace employees, no systems, processes or facilities. We set-up everything in 143 days, and started production 70 days ahead of schedule. We met every delivery requirement that even exceeded the former Japanese production. Today, six of the top ten Aerospace OEMs are our customers and we also won the “Trusted to Deliver Excellence” Award by Rolls Royce.

If you were to name a few challenges, they would be..
Ensuring that we don’t get complacent and lose focus of our customer’s needs.

In your spare time, you like to..
Read eclectic books as well as watch and play cricket. I have interests in spirituality, architecture, organic farming, history and innovation.

The one thing you’d have liked to do differently?
Nothing. Everything happens for a reason. You learn more from your mistakes than your successes.

Your message to the youth of today?
Be yourself, what worked for me, may not work for you. Do not suppress your individuality. Your sequence of DNA, will never be replicated, ever. You are special and believe in it.

Milind Shahane (TAS 1990)

Senior Vice President-Projects, Tata Industries Ltd.

Your fondest memory as a young TAS manager…
The initial induction period at TMTC and visiting various Tata companies in different locations – Jamshedpur, Pune, Bangalore, Munnar etc. The interactions with the company leaders at that time like Russi Mody, Xerxes Desai etc. was definitely a great learning and an enriching experience.

Which was the most challenging yet fulfilling project?
Fulfilling the role of MD & CEO for DIESL was the most challenging; especially since I had to deal with low employee morale, huge financial losses, major customer dissatisfaction, poor operations etc. Turning the company around and successfully divesting this to create large value for the Tata group was the most fulfilling assignment for me.

If you were to name a few challenges, they would be..
Varied challenges such as managing company improvements and sustainability as a Director for TAML, TACO and DIESL. Identifying new and differentiated opportunities for incubating and creating future Tata businesses.

In your spare time, you like to..
Play and watch sports, travel, go on treks, and indulge in light reading.

The one thing you’d have liked to do differently?
It would be to take on bigger, more varied assignments and roles, and to have spent more time with my family!

Your message to the youth of today?
Don’t be afraid to dirty your hands, keep to the grind but work smartly to move up in your careers!

Mridula .T (TAS 1997)

AVP Operations-Indian Hotels Company Ltd.

Your fondest memory as a young TAS manager…
Bharat Darshan and the opportunity to interact closely with the senior management. This includes Mr. Tata who was an epitome of grace and inclusivity even with some irreverent questioning from the team. For me that’s truly leading by example.

Which was the most challenging yet fulfilling project?
Taj gave me an opportunity to launch two new products: Ginger Hotels as well as Taj Safaris – two products at opposite ends of the spectrum.

If you were to name a few challenges, they would be..
Creating acceptance for the role of private players in the minds of government agencies, as private players are still not trusted with most of the conservation responsibilities in a direct way. We concentrate on doing good work and are proud of the goodwill and trust we have generated.

In your spare time, you like to..
Practice yoga, read about philosophy and do a bit of painting.

The one thing you’d have liked to do differently?
I could have used the opportunity to travel (that came with my job) to explore the destinations a little bit more rather than always remaining focussed on the job and then making a dash home.

Your message to the youth of today?
Think of your career not only in terms of positions and perks but also in terms of what kind of legacy you want to leave behind. Connect your work with what gives you a deep sense of meaning and purpose at a personal level.

Mukundan Ramakrishnan (TAS 1990)

MD & CEO-Tata Chemicals Ltd.

Your fondest memory as a young TAS manager…
The first week I spent in TMTC, which built the foundation for lifelong bonds.

Which was the most challenging yet fulfilling project?
I have three: the startup of Tata Autocomp, turnaround of Mithapur operations and acquisition of General Chemicals.

If you were to name a few challenges, they would be..
Making the organisation future ready while navigating the current turbulence.

In your spare time, you like to..
Read, listen to music and most definitely travel.

The one thing you’d have liked to do differently?
Being less of an introvert.

Your message to the youth of today?
Find purposeful passion, the rest will follow.

Nagarajan S. (TAS 1991)

MD & CEO - Metahelix Life Sciences Ltd.

Your fondest memory as a young TAS manager…
Every moment was a brilliant opportunity to soak in experiences from so many companies in diverse fields, through the projects I did. It also gave me terrific access to interact with and be inspired by great proven leaders.

Which was the most challenging yet fulfilling project?
Amongst all the projects I’ve worked on as a TAS probationer, the Tata Motors – TELCO one really stands out for me. The project for their Construction Equipment Division involved justifying their higher price point vis-a- vis the competition; through a systematic time and movement study in the mines of Goa and collieries in Ranchi. It was fascinating, since the selling had to be done internally first to the sales team, before going out into the market!

If you were to name a few challenges, they would be..
Our team has a terrific opportunity to grow profitably in a large market through solid execution, which means organically scaling up to hit the big league without losing out on the profitability.

In your spare time, you like to..
Read, catch up with the stock market and watch cricket.

The one thing you’d have liked to do differently?
I would have loved the opportunity to have engaged with the stock market even more. I am fascinated by the different theories for market movements offered by so called pundits and how they often get it wrong!

Your message to the youth of today?
Look for opportunities that allow you to learn and express yourself. Good performance here will usually mark you out as a winner.

Venkatesalu P (TAS 2001)

Executive Director (Finance) & CFO, Trent Ltd.

Your fondest memory as a young TAS manager…
Getting both an up close and bird’s eye view of the Tata way of "playing for the long term & for keeps" across businesses of interest. It was a great experience to witness the senior most leadership of the group live the ethos almost instinctively!

Which was the most challenging yet fulfilling project?
Together, with the leadership of Westland, grappling with and transitioning the operation to a far more sustainable business model culminating in the profitable exit to Amazon recently. Westland is now, incidentally one of the top book publishers in India.

If you were to name a few challenges, they would be..
Tackling the pursuit of accelerated growth without compromising profitability, in the rapidly evolving organised retail market while I was a part of the leadership at Trent. Also, retaining the best talent and keeping the excitement going for the team.

In your spare time, you like to..
Follow markets, as they are possibly both the pinnacle & the nadir of the capitalist system and are forever instructive in numerous ways. Also, love being curious and in this, I am big fan of audiobooks & kindle - both are such delightful enablers.

The one thing you’d have liked to do differently?
Wish I had realised the power of psychology and adopted its toolkit way earlier in life. In many ways, like the saying goes, we humans are "too soon old and too late smart".

Your message to the youth of today?
Be a learning machine - each day a little wiser; few other habits in life are as rewarding & satisfying. Dream big & take risks - betting big when the odds are favourable can be enormously valuable.

Deepika Rao (TAS 2005)

MD & CEO, Roots Corporation Ltd

Your fondest memory as a young TAS manager...
The “bharat darshan” phase of our induction is a lovely memory as we not only travelled across the country but also got to see a variety of companies from manufacturing to services and also got to know our batchmates very well. I also enjoyed my CSR stint with Tata Chemicals, being from a smaller batch, I was alone on my CSR stint with Tata Chemicals at Mithapur, members of the local team took me under their wing and really got to experience the place and know people more personally.

What is the most challenging yet fulfilling project / assignment you’ve worked on..
Two of my projects during my first year of induction were quite challenging as in one of the them the project lead was not convinced on the need for the project and in the second the work environment was needlessly aggressive and hostile. I finished both these projects with all concerned agreeing that the projects added significant and in doing so I approached my work in my own manner and style not imitating the work styles of the managers concerned.

Challenges in your current role..
In my current role, I have the dual challenges of growth and profitability, combined with the need for portfolio upgradation. Further building morale and pride for the team is key given the below than expected levels of performance in the past few years.

Interests and Hobbies..
Reading, playing and watching sports..

One line message to today’s budding talent who are trying to emulate leaders like yourself Stay curious and humble.

One thing you’d have liked to do differently?
Nothing really as my mistakes have been my biggest learnings and the choices I made have given me the life I have which I am very content with.

Krs Jamwal

Executive Director Tata industries

KRS Jamwal, as executive director of Tata Industries, is responsible for the incubation of new ventures as well as investments made by Tata Industries in new businesses.

Mr Jamwal is also on the board of Tata companies such as Tata Advanced Materials, a leader in aerospace composite manufacturing; Tata UniStore, which owns Tata CLiQ, a one-of-a-kind, leading omni-channel marketplace; Tata SmartFoodz, a food innovations company engaged in the manufacture and marketing of delicious ready foods (where he serves as director and chairman of the board); and Inzpera Healthsciences, a health sciences company that markets palatable and efficacious therapeutic products (where he serves as director and chairman of the board). He is also a member on the board of the overseas subsidiary of Tata Industries — Qubit Investments PTE (Singapore). He represents Qubit on the boards of: Flisom AG, which manufactures flexible, lightweight solar modules at market-comparable efficiency and costs; i3 Equity Partners, a Tel Aviv based technology incubator in IoT (Internet of Things) and industrial IoT; and SDX Partners LLC, USA, which provides seed funding to student-initiated business ideas at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston.

Prior to joining Tata Industries, he served as vice president, strategy, group corporate centre, Tata Sons, assisting the then Group Chairman, Ratan Tata, on strategy-related matters concerning Tata companies and supporting him on special assignments such as the Investment Commission (2005-2009) and the US-India and UK-India CEO Forums.

Mr Jamwal started his career with TAS (formerly known as Tata Administrative Services) in 1989. His initial assignments included project management for setting up new hotels and flight catering units, with subsequent responsibilities relating to strategic planning and mergers and acquisitions for the Taj Group of hotels. He has a bachelor’s degree in technology in petroleum engineering from the Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, and was awarded the scholastic gold medal and the best student shield. His post-graduation is in management from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, where he was awarded the scholastic gold medal and the KV Srinivas Award for the best all-rounder.