The stop-gap CEO?

NEWSMAKER

Ranbaxy Laboratories

This must have been one of the most tempestuous ways to the corner office. But Brian W Tempest, the man who is going to navigate Ranbaxy's destiny for the next two years, was left alone by newshounds despite the huge controversy over DS Brar's decision to step down as MD and CEO and Malvinder Mohan Singh's elevation to the company's board of directors.

So while Brar and Malvinder were inundated with phone calls, Tempest "" seldom seen and rarely heard "" continued to stay away from the spotlight.

Actually, he had quietly slipped out of Delhi on vacation. The day after the announcement was made, he boarded a flight to London to spend Christmas and New Year's eve with his wife, who is recovering from a long treatment.

But Tempest can now be sure that every move he makes will be followed with keen interest once he is back.

Ranbaxy is India's largest pharmaceutical company and has charted an ambitious growth path for itself"" a turnover of $5 billion by 2005. Tempest will have to count on every bit of his 32 years' experience to measure up to the task.

He graduated from Aston University, specialising in chemistry and followed it up with a PhD in polymer chemistry from Lancaster University. He started his career with Beecham (UK) in 1971 and then moved on to join Searle in 1979 as marketing and sales director.

In 1986, he joined Glaxo Holdings as regional director, responsible for various international markets. From there, he signed up with US-based Fisons as worldwide director (commercial operations), managing operations in all 40 countries the company was present in.

In 1995, Tempest joined Ranbaxy as regional director (Europe, CIS and Africa), at a time when the company had embarked on a global expansion spree. In January 2001, he was promoted as president of Ranbaxy and was co-opted on the board of directors. This is when he packed his bags in London and moved to New Delhi.

Those who have worked closely with him say that Tempest took to India like fish to water. Immediately after relocating, he travelled extensively within the country and developed a fondness for Indian cuisine. "This is my home," Tempest loves to say whenever quizzed about shifting base to the US, though his heart continues to beat for Manchester United.

Over the next few years, he helped the company set up its business in Brazil, handled the growth of its generics business (he is a director of the European Generics Association) and oversaw the acquisition of the generic arm of Aventis in France.

When Brar announced his decision to step down at a meeting of the Ranbaxy board on December 22, he was asked to name his successor. Without waiting for a second, he took Tempest's name.

At 56, Tempest is not really young. At best, he could serve as CEO for two years as the retirement age at Ranbaxy is 58 years, unless the board decides to extend his term. Meanwhile, Malvinder has already been made second-in-command. This makes many see him as a stop-gap CEO till Malvinder gains some more experience for a long innings at the top.

Looking at the brighter side, many Ranbaxy insiders insist that Tempest is brilliant at grooming people under him. His tenure as CEO will only benefit Malvinder, they assert.

Still, others say Tempest is not the visionary that Brar is or Parvinder Singh was. But those who are close to him maintain it doesn't matter. "The vision is already there. What is needed is a good organisations man at the top. And Tempest is very good at it," says a friend.

One thing is certain: there will not be a dull moment for Tempest over the next couple of years.