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'Indian CEO's aspiration shifting to being among top 10 globally'

The Indian CEO's aspiration for his company is shifting from being the largest or the most profitable in India, to being one of the top 10 globally, writes PwC India's Shashank Tripathi.

How these Indian CEOs came over their weaknesses

CEOs are not born. They are made. They grow into that position. We asked our CEO winners if they had any weaknesses and how they overcame them. Here is what they said:
KK Sharma's skills have steered Lupin into big pharma league

Kamal K. Sharma came into Lupin after the company went through tough times. For one, the pharma firm was saddled with a massive Rs 500-crore debt. For another, it had missed the bus on global expansion while its peers such as Ranbaxy had started operations in the US.
Akhilesh Joshi has played a stellar role in Hindustan Zinc's success

He takes risks. He seeks results. What makes Joshi's success all the more significant is that he has managed to effortlessly cross the public sector-private sector divide with Hindustan Zinc, one of the largest zinc producing companies in the world.
The ideal leader: Qualities an Indian CEO must possess

What traits should a CEO possess to be succesful? Much depends on the environment in which his/her compny operates. Still, there are some qualities the CEO of every company in India had better possess if he hopes to go far.
Aditya Puri has succeeded in building HDFC Bank from a scratch

Aditya Puri, who is Business Today's Best CEO 2013 in financial services, has been at the helm of HDFC Bank since its inception 20 years ago. Over this period, he has built from scratch a bank that is now the biggest in the country by market value and the seventh-largest by assets.
Nitin Paranjpe's leadership qualities has infused HUL with dynamism

Nitin Paranjpe has been declared best CEO (MNC) and best CEO (FMCG) by Business Today at Mind Rush 2013.
Rajiv Bajaj dived into homeopathy and yoga to weld a modern marketing strategy

While listening to Bajaj, the application of homeopathy in corporate strategy sounds deceptively simple. But, of course, it isn't. And therefore the Bajaj Auto MD has no hesitation in giving it out.
Shikha Sharma has learned it pays to look beyond the safe and obvious

"I am happy to take risks," Axis Bank managing director and CEO Sharma says and adds that growing up in an armed forces family teaches one to overcome fear and anxiety, and to cope with situations.
CEO has to be a developer, a motivator and an energiser of people: Ram Charan

Ram Charan speaks to N. Madhavan on the changing role of CEOs, whether they are born or made and most importantly, if they should be loved or feared
India's Best CEOs: Natarajan Chandrasekaran has kept TCS on a high-growth path

The IT czar, who bagged the Business Today's Best CEO 2013 award, has never attended any management school. His lessons in running a company have come from real-life experiences.
Business Today listing of India's Best CEOs in 2013

They have led their companies with elan and vigour, ensuring high growth despite the difficult economic environment. Business Today, with knowledge support from PwC India, presents India's Best CEOs in 2013.
Business Today-PWC India present India's Top 100 CEOs

The companies they head have defied the slowdown, runaway input costs, high interest rates and adverse market conditions to deliver stunning results. Presenting the BT-PWC India Listing of India's top 100 CEOs -

'Leadership development does not happen overnight'

The process is followed strictly in most global multinational companies. Every organisation starts with a pool of talent, which it recruits either from educational institutions or laterally.

How VC Sehgal drove Motherson Sumi to become India's largest auto component maker

Sehgal, the chairman of India's largest auto component maker, has been declared as the best CEO (auto ancillaries) by Business Today in 2013.

Start-ups redefine the way data is stored and managed

Online data is growing exponentially every second and with it the need to store and manage it effectively. There is very high growth potential for start-ups in this segment, especially those which can come up with disruptive technologies.

Forming a LNG buyers group faces multiple challenges

The attempt by India and four other Asian countries to form a club of LNG buyers is praiseworthy. It will not be easy, however, for Asian countries to form a grouping of LNG importers. Many energy industry experts suggest it would be much easier for these countries to become partners in developing new LNG supplies.

Strong governance, consistency in rules could revive economy: CEOs

The CEOs unanimously agreed at Business Today's CEOs lunch meet in Mumbai that this is the best time to revive the animal instincts in Indian businessmen. To get the economy going, the crying need is to step up investments.

As diesel prices rise, domestic sales fall while exports surge

Slowing domestic demand for diesel and a weakening rupee are helping boost exports of the fuel. Diesel exports are growing because of stagnant local demand and higher supply from export-oriented refineries.

Smartphones makers slash prices of premium brands to increase sales

Apple, Nokia, Sony and Google have slashed prices of their smartphones to shore up sales.

India gave more than it gained at WTO's Bali meet: Yashwant Sinha

Former finance minister and a senior leader of the BJP India Yashwant Sinha says in the WTO negotiations, the major beneficiaries are the US, European Union, Japan and China. India had to give more than it gained in the trade deal clinched at WTO's Bali meet.

How different things work

With the bill for the reorganisation of Andhra Pradesh having been approved by the Union Cabinet, the state of Telangana, the 29th state of the Indian union, is all set to become a reality.

Assembly Poll Results: Who said what

Notes to self for 2014. Never underestimate the underdog/newcomer with a fresh face and message, says Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister, Jammu and Kashmir, on Twitter

Economic indicators: What they mean

The long night of economic gloom may be coming to an end. A bunch of recent economic indicators point to a nascent recovery. But whether this is a false dawn or a real one remains to be seen.

How do Article 370's provisions affect investment in Kashmir?

The debate over Article 370 has been revived. How do its provisions affect investment in Kashmir?

Book extract - Driven: Memoirs of a Civil Servant Turned Entrepreneur

Former Maruti Suzuki managing director Jagdish Khattar's autobiography, co-authored by Business Today's Executive Editor Suveen Sinha, spreads across a sweeping canvas from drought- and flood-hit villages to the Shakespearean intrigues of politicians and bureaucrats. It has insights into the complicated relationship with the Japanese, and is filled with lessons in leadership, friendships, jugaad-style innovation, resilience, and values. Edited excerpts: