Data Wizards in Demand

Data Wizards in Demand
India's Best CFOs (BT cover, May 2) underscores how good organisations separate themselves from their competitors by using data to improve performance. Companies are increasingly relying on CFOs who are proactive about the way data are collected and used to improve outcomes and reduce the cost of doing business.

- Neha Thakur, Kolkata

Growing in Stature
With the public outcry for accountability and increasing pressure to justify budget expenditures, reduce costs, and grow profits, the job of the CFO has become more challenging than before. Major corporate accounting scandals like Satyam have further redefined the CFO's role as the strongest functional leader on the executive team who's required to bring risk management, accounting, finance and management skills to the table apart from playing a strategic role in policymaking decisions in an organisation- a far cry from the days when CFOs just crunched numbers and reviewed financial reports.

- Vinit Madhukar, Delhi

The Blue-eyed Boys
The challenges of the recession have whipped CFOs into shape for broader leadership roles. With companies putting new and relentless focus on working capital and cash management, a greater number of finance executives find themselves on the radars of various company boards in the matter of succession planning. It's no surprise that we see an increasing number of ex-CFOs ascending to the CEO post.

- Alok Rai, Chennai

Cow-to-customer Business
Butter Girl Gets Tough (BT, April18) shows how newer technology, demand for novel products, new customer preference and innovative retail techniques are transforming the face of the dairy business in India. As consumers today have more products to choose from, even dominant players like Amul are forced to try out new initiatives to expand their customer base and market share.

- B. Rajasekaran, Bangalore

A Correction
In the story Welcome, High-end Patients (BT, May 2), Mr Vishal Bali's designation was given as CEO, Fortis Healthcare. He is CEO of Fortis Hospitals. The error is regretted.

With Strings Attached
Worn Out at Work? (BT, April 18) is a good reminder that paying top dollar alone cannot keep employees happy. Well-paid employees at many multinationals and big companies often find their work-life balance out of kilter because of working long, arduous hours that stretch beyond the standard official time. In practice, this amounts to squeezing work of two employees at the cost of only one. Companies should let go their obsession with demanding the last pound of flesh from their employees and allow them more space and freedom.

- M. Kumar, Delhi