Chintan to look after entire Oreva, Nevil handles Orpat, cement
Time has come for the third generation to handle the diversified businesses of Ajanta, a group which manufactures the largestnumber of wall-clocks in the world.
Chintan Patel and Nevil Patel, grandchildren of group's chairman and founder Odhavji Patel have joined the company as directors and are looking after separate businesses of Oreva and Orpat respectively.
What began in a rented space in tinsel town of Morbi in Gujarat by Odhavji Patel, with a turnover of hardly Rs 1 lakh in 1971 is today a Rs 1,000 crore empire with diversified interests ranging from wall clocks to energy saver lighting equipments, e-bikes, mobile handsets and the recent cement business.
Chintan Patel, son of group managing director Jaysukhbhai Patel is all set to look after the entire business of Oreva. He has a vision to take the group to the next level by reaching out to the middle class. This, he aims to do by introducing quality products at reasonable prices.
"I would take over the Oreva group and turn my ideas into practice soon," says Chintan Patel.
Twenty-three-year-old Chintan Patel recently graduated in economics from California University and plans to pursue a master in business administration (MBA) next year.
"Yes we are preparing our new generation for taking over the family business. My son Chintan has joined the company as director just a month ago. It is his training period. We are giving him responsibility in our existing business for a year. After that the company will give him an opportunity to decide what he wants to do," said Jaysukhbhai Patel.
Oreva is a leading brand of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and vitrified tiles. Oreva also manufactures aluminum composite panels (ACPs) and has recently commenced the production of battery operated electromotive bikes (e-Bikes).
Meanwhile Nevil Patel, son of director Pravinbhai Patel joined the company a year ago and is looking after Orpat and their upcoming cement project. Twenty six year old Nevil has studied information technology in USA.
Orpat covers electronics, home applicances, lighting, ceramic, electrical and windmill products of Ajanta group.
The group plans to set up a Rs 2,000 crore cement manufacturing plant with a capacity of around 15 million tonnes per annum in Kutch.
Jaysukhbhai said, "We are teaching them how Indian business systems work because they seen and studied styles of foreign business. Both Chintan and Nevil have to understand family and business values in Indian manners.”
While the day to day activities are being taken care by his two sons Jaysukhbhai and Pravinbhai Patel, Odhavji Patel says that he has taken up social activities in areas including education and water conservation.
Talking about the development Odhavji Patel said, “We are preparing our third generation to take over the reins of the business. We have given them separate businesses to look after. They will undergo intensive training for a period of one or two years."
