Business: Special Series; Anand Mahindra, 44

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Nov 8, 1999

SPECIAL SERIES

Anand Mahindra, 44
Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra

The Thinker
Call him what you will but Anand Mahindra sees himself as a person who will recast a promoter -- himself -- into an aggressive venture capitalist. "Our role would be to provide strategic inputs, create synergies and concentrate on values," he says. "Ownership should be separate from management." This model has made Mahindra refocus his strategy, leave business to group heads and use the time saved in working out plans, travelling to meet customers, networking with government.

Such application has paid off. Between 1991 and 1999, turnover trebled to Rs 4,117 crore and net profit increased more than 10 times. But it's driving policy and risk-taking that will keep him in the news. While Indian companies are shying away, Mahindra has bet his company on becoming the largest manufacturer of tractors by 2005. In a market opening up to multi-utility vehicles, he wants to pan the entire range, from prosperous farmers to city-slickers. Others call it market share. Mahindra thinks of it as a value chain.

-V. Shankar Aiyar

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