We intend to be more aggressive: Thomas Archer Bata

He says if the tax rate is kept above 20% it will be a very big hit

Bata, the Swiss-based 122-years-old footware major, is still considered synonymous with shoes in India. However, with a growing influx of other sizable entities, it faces tough competition. Thomas Archer Bata, current global chief marketing officer and fourth generation of the founder family, tells Arnab Dutta how the company is planning to transform. Edited excerpts:

Your current assessment of Bata’s business in India?

We had some internal challenges and macro economic issues such as currency withdrawal have affected us. These are the ‘unknowns’; weren't foreseen. We had got nervous as we have very ambitious plans for this market. We believe, in future,