Thaindian News

Mumbai, Nov 14 (IANS) Successful Indian CEOs, characterised by their “vision, resilience and ability to look at things through a bi-focal lens, with equal emphasis on the daily cash balance” could make good global leaders, a top industry official said Monday.

McKinsey’s director (India) Alok Kshirsagar said though India presently has few such CEOs, but with the rapidly changing economic environment, their numbers are expected to rise soon.

He noted that in the rapidly changing economic world, characterised by greater interconnectivity, collapse of geographical boundaries, diverse business environments and work cultures, the CEO’s role assumes greater importance than ever before.

Kshirsagar’s observations came at a session on the “Rise of the Indian CEO” at the 27th India Economic Summit, jointly organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the World Economic Forum here Monday.

Ingersoll Rand India chairman and president Venkatesh Valluri said the India of the 1980s, 1990s and the early part of the 2000, was very different and the challenges faced by the CEOs then were also very different as the approach was productivity-driven and several industries were at a very nascent stage.

Genpact India senior vice president Harpreet Duggal said at that time, there were huge pressures on leadership in the ITeS industry since the industry was at a very nascent stage.

“There were no clear policies, available talent, a ready market, or infrastructure in place. The attributes required of a CEO then were vision, ability, and most importantly tenacity to drive that vision and turn it into a reality,” Duggal said.

Other prominent industry leaders who spoke included Joseph Massey, managing director and CEO, MCX Stock Exchange Limited, India, Vineet Aggarwal, joint managing director, Transport Corporation of India; and Phanindra Sama, CEO, Pilani Soft Labs, India.