Computers Today December 1-15, 1998: Circuit

December 1-15, 1998 THE CIRCUIT

Old Chip, New Speed

Rahul Kanodia and Lalit S. Kanodia Rush of blood? Youthful advances? Call it whatever, Datamatics Group is in a flux. Rahul Kanodia, joint managing director of Datamatics Ltd, is targeting a Rs 1,000-crore revenue by 2000. In the past four years, he has also taken over charge from his father, Lalit S. Kanodia, the chairman of the group. A veteran IT professional, Lalit Kanodia founded Tata Computing Centre (now Tata Consultancy Services) before branching out to set up Datamatics Consultants Ltd (now Datamatics Ltd). Though the company was always export-oriented, Kanodia junior is extending the thrust. In 1992, he set up an US office for scouting order and marketing services. Now comes a German subsidiary with a Japanese outpost on the cards. Kanodia is also busy negotiating for the takeover of an American company involved in Net-related software development. "This will give us an American face and you get an American price, whereas an Indian company will always get an Indian price," says he.

Cambridge Technology Partners has roped in Vivek Kwatra as general manager, sales and marketing, whose area focus will be on the Internet Client Server Group. Adds he: "The Indian market space is a challenge, the mindset a mystery and the price points a reality. But this is where the real fun is."

Modi Corp.'s chief B.K. Modi is in a mood for vertical integration. He has cast his eyes on the emerging Internet service market in India. "In a way, this is an extension of my interest in IT industry. I am already in telecom switching, office automation and cellular telephony," he says. For his Internet foray, he is talking to Yahoo! and America Online, and is willing to offer the company 49 percent equity. T. Sriram Rao

T. Sriram Rao has joined the Bangalore-based Linc Software Services Pvt. Ltd as general manager, finance and administration. Prior to this, he was general manager, finance and administration, at BAeHAL Software Ltd (a British Aerospace and HAL joint venture). Armed with an MBA degree, Rao has 19 years experience in finance.

Rajendra Gupta

It's election time. But he is not dangling cheap onions or offering good roads to his electorate. Former Delhi Minister of Transport Rajendra Gupta, contesting the state assembly elections, has chosen to be a Netocrat: he is promising info-kiosks for his Malviya Nagar constituency. Why? Says he: "To facilitate people to pay their water and electricity bills promptly and surf the Net."

V.S. Iyer has been appointed as the regional manager (West), Bharti BT Ltd. Previously, he had been with Digital Equipment (India) Ltd as sales manager for over eight years.

Arun Sharma has joined BICC Brand-Rex (India) as regional manager (North). He was earlier with HCL Comnet Systems and Services.

Issue Contents Write to us Subscriptions Syndication