Deveshwar: ITC's longest-serving chairman with a lifetime of achievements

Y C Deveshwar, who diversified ITC beyond tobacco, is winner of BS Lifetime achievement award 2016

Name change for ITC has been a part of its metamorphosis. Till 1948, it was Imperial Tobacco Company. In 1969, the company got its first Indian chairman, Ajit Narain Haksar, and the ‘Imperial’ in the company’s name became India and in 1974, it became plain ITC. But for the company’s longest-serving chairman, Yogesh Chander Deveshwar, ITC means India’s Trademarks Corporation.
 
In February 2017, Deveshwar stepped down from his executive role and will continue to be ITC’s non-executive chairman. Sanjiv Puri was appointed chief executive officer.
 
After graduating in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Deveshwar