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PEOPLE
 Different Strokes
Winds of change are blowing through
ITC. And no, there's no risk of passive smoking though Yogesh Chandra
'Yogi' Deveshwar, the genial chairman of the tobacco and hotel major, is a
heavy smoker himself. The 'Strategy Master', as he is known within ITC, is
unveiling new business ideas (read politically-correct ones) with a
flourish. Last month, ITC launched Wills Sport, a range of premium casual
wear. Perhaps, the chairman's love for sports had something to do with it.
Almost immediately, Deveshwar announced a foray into greeting cards...and
dal! ITC will leverage the strength of its eponymous Bukhara brand,
hitherto available only in the namesake restaurant at Delhi's Maurya
Sheraton. The first brand to roll out will be Dal Bukhara, synonymous with
the eatery. Says Deveshwar, 52: ''These initiatives are related to ITC's
core competence and blend with its branding and marketing capabilities.''
Some are not. For instance, Deveshwar's proposed foray into infotech. And
there are reports that the company is eyeing Indian Airlines, which is due
for privatisation! Well, many of ITC's earlier diversifications haven't
worked, even though the strategy to diversify from tobacco is a sound one.
''Just because we haven't had success in one or two ventures doesn't mean
that we should not try again,'' shoots back the keen golfer, also known
for his meticulous planning skills. Let's hope for a better handicap this
time round!
 Chemical.com?
He doesn't want to be a managing director ever again. But being an
entrepreneur is a different matter. Tata Chemicals' chief, Manu Seth,
who recently stepped down, wants to set up a cyberspace venture that can
leverage his chemical industry background. But not before he takes a
month-long break to walk the streets of Mumbai and revive his love for
photography. Says Seth, 48: ''A dot.com is a distinct possibility as well
as taking up consultancy. But a regular job situation is unlikely.'' For
this IIT Kanpur graduate, who is also a Ph.d from Berkeley, California,
the 15-year stint with the Tata Group has probably been enough...
 Queen of Herbs
The desi Helena Rubinstein is reinventing herself! The diva of herbal
cosmetics, Shahnaz Husain, will launch a chain of high-end
'anti-stress' resorts next year. Located at Dhauj, Haryana, the first
resort will provide a range of ayurvedic beauty and health treatments.
Expect it to be expensive-and private. Guests will be allotted numbers
rather than names. The less-privileged can check into dormitories for
weekend packages. Shahnaz has tied up with a US-based hospitality company
for expertise, and will be coming up with an IPO by end-2000, to fund the
venture. Says Husain: ''With my background in beauty therapies and
ayurveda, stress management is the most natural extension possible.''
Husain has already ventured into medicinal products like blood purifiers.
We can practically see Lara 'I'm beautiful inside' Dutta nodding in
approval!
 Scholar Extraordinaire
He gave Hindustan Lever Ltd. (HLL) the tag of a megacorp. A glittering
corporate career notwithstanding, Sushim Mukul Datta, the genteel
HLL lifer and former chairman, is not one to rest on his laurels. How?
Well, by spreading the good governance gospel. Datta is on the board of 18
companies (yes, you read right). He chairs six of them, including
heavyweights like Castrol India and Philips India. Not surprisingly, his
focus is on creating shareholder value, honing management systems, and
bringing about transparency. Says Datta, 63, with characteristic modesty:
''I have associated myself with a cross-section of the Indian industry to
ensure my own learning. I hope to make some contribution based on my
understanding of the Indian marketplace and financial discipline.'' The
fascination for learning has seen him forging ties with top-notch
institutes like IIM-Bangalore and ASCI Hyderabad, as well. And what does
this eternal learner do in his nearly non-existent spare time? Read Indian
philosophy in order to-you guessed it-learn more about life!
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