India Inc's most powerful CEOs

India Inc's most powerful CEOs

ET Bureau

The wait is finally over for the corner-room denizens of Corporate India. That most definitive of power listings, The Economic Times Corporate Dossier' India Inc's Most Powerful CEOs', is here and it reinforces what we have said all along: Power is not just about controlling assets or generating profits—it's about inspiring positive change.

All through 2008-09, the dramatic story of the Nano captured the public imagination and Ratan Tata, the driving force behind the little car, demonstrated tremendous fortitude through all the trials and travails he faced.

Mr Tata deservedly ascends to the top spot in the power rankings this year, displacing Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries, who is now in the second position.

Quickies

1) Ratan Tata(Tata Group)

Comment Mail to friend Previous rank: 2 Theatre of Operations: Everwhere except Singur Bragging rights: Just launched the world's cheapest car Started his career with: National Radio And Electronics Company (Nalco) It's in his genes: The head of the $62 billion House of Tatas has capitalised on the group's reputation for honesty and integrity and turned 'Tata' into a royalty-earning brand name that's used by the 100-plus companies within the fold Leadership style: Aloof and understated Allies: His favourite companions are his German Shepherds Famous Quote: "A promise is a promise" Big ambitions: Turn the Nano into a best-seller in Europe and the USA Little known indulgence: Piloting his business jet Future woes: The debts accrued in the Jaguar and Land Rover acquisitions Home away from home: Alibagh, where he's designed and built a bungalow

2) Mukesh Ambani (Reliance Industries)

Comment Mail to friend

Previous rank: 1

Theatre of Operations: The seas off Andhra Pradesh to the coast of Gujarat

Bragging rights: Asia's richest man

It's in his genes: Thinks big, like his father, the late Dhirubhai

Leadership style: Relationship-based , entrepreneurial

Family relations: Husband to Nita, father to Akash, Anant and Isha

Famous Quote: "I have to eat my dal, roti, chawal. I have not developed a taste for other food."

Thorn In His Side: Continuing dispute with enstranged brother Anil over natural gas supplies from the Krishna-Godavari basin

Big ambitions: To build global-scale decentralised manafacturing in India, Gandhi-style

Big indulgence: Antila, the 27 storey home he's building on Altamount Road, Mumbai, at an estimated cost of $1 billion

Home away from home: South Africa, once the IPL matches start

Quickies

3) NR Narayana Murthy (Infosys Technologies)

Comment Mail to friend Previous rank: 3 Bragging rights: Set to become Amar Chitra Katha's first living comic book hero Started his career with: Patni Computers It's in his genes: A believer in simple living and higher thinking, he is the billionaire-next-door in Bangalore, like Warren Buffet in Omaha Leadership style: Statesman-like . Has handed over executive responsibilities to the younger set at Infosys and now likes to be called ‘chief mentor’ Family relations: Husband to Sudha Murthy, now a famous author, father to Akshata and Rohan Famous Quote: "Our market cap is $15 bn when our employees walk into the office every morning and it's zero when they walk out in the evening" Big ambitions: Seen as a future President of India Little indulgences: Creating luxurious, world class campuses for his company's employees Future woes: The global recession is likely to affect the software industry the mostest

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Source:ET