Business Analysis

Larger life CEO’s are becoming history as technologies and new

management equations change business.

“The right people for the right job”

Say’s Sunil Mathur, first India born CEO of Siemens India. With the
change in the corporate culture, there has been a subsequent shift
from the larger than life CEO to rather new minds that can bring a wave
of change. Though the vast history of the corporate world has certain
names such as Russi Mody, Anil Manibhai Naik, Yogesh Chander,
Deepak Parekh that are embedded deep into the roots of Indian
corporate world, still the need of the hour is a ‘change’. It seems that
even though, there is a sense of absence that is constantly felt such as
in the case of A.M Naik, the non – executive Chairman of L&T, still the
traditional grey-haired CEO–in– a suit is not quite needed at the
moment as in past years.

The super CEO Yogesh Chander is, however, an example of a man who
led ITC for two decades and saved it from the hostile takeovers attempt
by British Tobacco Company. Today ITC stands diversified from just a
tobacco and hotel company in a larger than life brand with its name
spread across paper, packaging, IT to name a few.

Russi Mody, the prior Chairman and the managing director of TATA
Steel for 19 years, did wonders and built the foundation for the
development of India’s biggest private sector company. Known as the
“Steel Man Of India” he was a great motivator, a polite leader who
offered business excellence to the company
However, the stubbornness of Ratan Tata and the personal clash of the
two affected the entire working of the firm as he was forced to leave.

A study published in “The Wall Street Journal Online” ,

brings out the major concern of the corporate world that is the
constant turmoil among the traditional CEO’ and the young mind. As
quoted by S.V Nathan, Chief Talent Officer, Deloitte India, “the new
age- CEO will the one who is smart, innovative and is able to build a
performance-driven organization where anyone can say “I can rise to
the top”. The new-age CEO shall be one who could both dominate yet
share great relations with his subordinates while possessing great
knowledge. Yet, the attitude remains a problem among the youth, and
thus what is wanted is a young mind that rejects being pompous and
dictatorial.

In changing times with the competition becoming more

aggressive and the market dimensions taking a full swing, the corporate
world is waiting for a young mind to be the next Super CEO.