My active full time working life was split between two Industries – Auto Components and Consumer Durables. Geographically, till 1999, it was almost evenly split between North (Delhi / Himachal Pradesh) and West (Bombay / Maharashtra.) All the companies I worked with had Manufacturing as the core focus area.

 

My initial foray was with a Delhi based Auto Component Group (Anand Group). Those were pre 1991 period and looking back, it was difficult to distinguish one year from another. I moved from Auto Components to Consumer Durable Industry in 1986 – Blow Plast, who were then in Luggage and Toys Businesses. 

 

During my stint at Blow Plast, I was able to handle many challenging opportunities, both in Luggage and in Toys Businesses, moving from one to another every two / three years. I was also involved in managing and turning around another luggage company. 

 

Part of the turnaround of the company involved spending more time in the courts than in the company itself! I moved back to Auto Components business in 1995 after heading the Toys Business for three years.

 

After spending four fruitful years again in the Delhi based Anand group, I moved to Chennai in 1999, where I am currently based. This company is also in Auto Components Business (Rane Group) and while I stopped working full time for them in 2009, continue to be involved as a member in some of their Boards, as a Director. 

 

During my active phase, was involved in two of their companies with high degree of professional satisfaction. One of the companies won the Deming Prize in 2005 and Japan Gold Medal in 2009, both awarded by Japanese organization JUSE.

 

Currently, I consult with a few companies in my individual capacity. I am also a certified Business and Executive Coach and do an occasional assignment.

 

As to my family – my wife Radhaa is a Nutritionist and been consulting on and off in the area of catering and even ran a restaurant full time in Chennai for a while. Both have been given a rest now. 

 

Our son Ashwin, did his graduation and post graduation in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University and his Ph.D. in Engineering & Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University in USA. He is currently a full time faculty at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and is married to a fellow scientist at the same Institute.