R K Krishna Kumar, Tata Sons director and a close confidante of former Tata group chairman, Ratan Tata is set to hang his boots on July 18. Days before his retirement, Krishan Kumar, who is also vice chairman of Tata Global Beverages, recounts the challenges and his dreams.
Are you happy with where Tata Global Beverages is today?
Ofcourse we are happy, everybody has been talking about my role in Tata Global Beverages (TGBL). I would say no single individual could have done this, what it means is this is a great team for the last many years and it is their collective work, which actually drove TGBL where it is. I have great confidence in the new board, in Cyrus and Harish Bhat (MD at TGBL) and his team. It couldn't be in safer hands.
No. I have been a follower of Bhagavad Gita, you do what you can and forget about results.
Where do you see Tata Global Beverages a few years down the line?
I would imagine, and this is just sharing a dream that in the next three four five years, we will make big acquisitions and we are truly well-powered. Not just in coffee but many others, in beverages ,so it will be a unrivaled company,,
Any numbers that you would like to share?
It’s just a dream so wont share number
Are you looking for acquisitions?
When does a company not look for acquisition..so always have to be looking for them. Growth is driven by both organic and inorganic.
Any target that you think has been left unfinished?
I was hoping that in next three years the company would be a $5 billion company and they are well on their way to reach that target soon. I think at the Prague conference we had articulated that we should be a $5 billion company soon and we had targeted some potential companies but that has taken time.
Cyrus Mistry spoke about investment in brands can you tell us more?
It would not be fair to give any specific numbers because it is of direct competitive interest. I can only say in the next two-three years the ratio of expenditure on brand promotion would be quite an impressive figure so that is really the path in which TGBL would go.
What about Tata Group as a whole, where do you see it in three years?
There were lot of concerns that when a giant like Ratan Tata hands over, what would happen, but I think Cyrus has got all that it takes to take the Tata Group forward. In the last one year, he has been exhibiting great quality of leadership and intellect. He is also very confident.
What has been the biggest challenge for you?
The biggest challenge, in the last couple of years, has been great pressure to maintain the Tata values. It would have been very easy to have gotten away from the problems if we had not been ethical, but the biggest challenge is to hold on to the values.
What would be your advice to Cyrus Mistry?
He has great potential to take the company forward.He has just started and he has great confidence I believe.
Are you happy with where Tata Global Beverages is today?
Ofcourse we are happy, everybody has been talking about my role in Tata Global Beverages (TGBL). I would say no single individual could have done this, what it means is this is a great team for the last many years and it is their collective work, which actually drove TGBL where it is. I have great confidence in the new board, in Cyrus and Harish Bhat (MD at TGBL) and his team. It couldn't be in safer hands.
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Any unfinished agenda?
No. I have been a follower of Bhagavad Gita, you do what you can and forget about results.
Where do you see Tata Global Beverages a few years down the line?
I would imagine, and this is just sharing a dream that in the next three four five years, we will make big acquisitions and we are truly well-powered. Not just in coffee but many others, in beverages ,so it will be a unrivaled company,,
Any numbers that you would like to share?
It’s just a dream so wont share number
Are you looking for acquisitions?
When does a company not look for acquisition..so always have to be looking for them. Growth is driven by both organic and inorganic.
Any target that you think has been left unfinished?
I was hoping that in next three years the company would be a $5 billion company and they are well on their way to reach that target soon. I think at the Prague conference we had articulated that we should be a $5 billion company soon and we had targeted some potential companies but that has taken time.
Cyrus Mistry spoke about investment in brands can you tell us more?
It would not be fair to give any specific numbers because it is of direct competitive interest. I can only say in the next two-three years the ratio of expenditure on brand promotion would be quite an impressive figure so that is really the path in which TGBL would go.
What about Tata Group as a whole, where do you see it in three years?
There were lot of concerns that when a giant like Ratan Tata hands over, what would happen, but I think Cyrus has got all that it takes to take the Tata Group forward. In the last one year, he has been exhibiting great quality of leadership and intellect. He is also very confident.
What has been the biggest challenge for you?
The biggest challenge, in the last couple of years, has been great pressure to maintain the Tata values. It would have been very easy to have gotten away from the problems if we had not been ethical, but the biggest challenge is to hold on to the values.
What would be your advice to Cyrus Mistry?
He has great potential to take the company forward.He has just started and he has great confidence I believe.