I joined IIMA after a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from IIT, Madras in 1974. After passing out of IIMA, I joined Godrej Soaps and was with them in Bombay, Calcutta and Madras(using city names as they were called then) for nearly six years before shifting to Chemplast of the Sanmar Group as Regional Manager, North based out of Delhi. Headed a new Speciality Chemicals business for them from Chennai HO, before shifting in end 1988 to the Middle East and the Automotive sector with Suhail and Saud Bahwan in Muscat, Oman.

 

In 1996 got back to India as President of an Engineering Company with the Sanmar Group in Chennai. In 2000, I joined Satyam Infoway (SIFY) as President of the new E learning Business. I set it up from scratch, made it profitable unlike other Internet businesses then and was also part of the team that led SIFY’s NASDAQ listing. Also held dual roles with Satyam Computers as SVP Strategy. 

 

In 2004, left the group and became MD and CEO of Hinduja TMT, a public limited Company which had BPO, Media and telecom businesses in its fold with operations in several global locations (the BPO part of this Co. is now known as Hinduja Global).Acquired 3 companies in USA, Canada and Philippines and grew the company multi fold. 

 

My last corporate stint was in Hyderabad with Maytas as CEO before I left them in Dec 2008.In summary, I have spent 33 years working in corporate sector serving diverse sectors such as Engineering, IT, IT Enabled Services and Infrastructure as President, MD & CEO before moving to the social sector with Agastya 8 years before.

 

I now head the operations of Agastya International Foundation, a non profit which runs world’s largest hands-on Mobile Science Lab program serving the education needs of economically backward school children. Besides operations, I am involved with Policy, Scaling & replication, Funding, People development and Innovations in products and services. I have also pledged a large sum to Agastya which I am in the process of fulfilling.

 

During these years, I have lectured in leading Business Schools including the IIMs, Indian School of Business in India and Global schools such as Yale School of Management, London Business School and Kellogg in Northwestern. Travel and Carnatic classical music are my abiding passions. Personally designed and built my home in Bangalore, which has been hailed for its architecture, engineering and build quality by all visitors including architects.

 

I got married in 1979 to Sujatha (Suji). She is a Carnatic classical instrumentalist (Veena) and a disciple of couple of celebrated Gurus. With several performances and a teaching career in the genre, she continues to be busy and very happy. 

 

We have a son Arvind (born Aug 1984), who distinguished himself in academics and work: IIT JEE rank 1 in 2001, CBSE top ranks, Gold medallist in International Physics Olympiad 2001, Batch Topper and President’s Gold medal from IIT Madras 2005, Ph.D from MIT, a start up which he sold to Amazon and now a senior Research Scientist in Twitter based out of Massachusetts, USA. He is also a Carnatic classical Vocalist. He is married to Poorna who did MBBS from India, Internal Medicine from Harvard and is a Cardiology Fellow in Bay State Medical, MA. She is an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer with several performances to her credit.

 

Email: kthiag2000@gmail.com; Ph: +919845722233;

41, 36th Main, BTM layout 1st stage, Dollar Scheme, Bangalore 560068