Challenges for Chandra

Natarajan Chandrasekaran’s appointment as head of the $100-billion Tata empire is the stuff legends are made of. It’s a tribute to his hard work, passion and compassion, and was widely applauded by India Inc. Known as the global marathon man who has run marathons in different parts of the world, he started his career with the Tatas as an intern and never worked anywhere else, rising from the ranks after 31 years to bag the prized post for which there were many claimants in India and overseas. The last boss, Cyrus Mistry, faced an ignomnous exit that he challenged before the National Company Law Tribunal.

Chandra, as he is popularly known, brings the calm of the sylvan surroundings of Namakkal in Tamil Nadu, where he grew up. His task ahead will be no bed of roses as he takes the reins of office amid unprecedented turmoil in the 100-year-old salt-to-steel group. Serious and challenging legal cases confront him, and it’s well known that the Tata Docomo case was the major undoing of Mr Mistry. The Tatas, as it’s said, don’t like being in the public eye in this manner, with the group’s image taking a knock.

The Tata name is globally recognised and it’s a household word in India. So an image makeover will top Chandra’s agenda. There could be no better person to handle this challenging task: he knows the group like the back of his hand and the standing applause he got from the Bombay House staff is a reflection of the high regard in which he’s held.