Thirty years ago, she invented an industry by launching the concept of time-share holidays. Today, Christel DeHaan, who founded RCI International and ran it up until 1996, when she cashed out, is trying to "break the cycle of poverty" by helping underprivileged children get an education via her NGO called Christel House. Her most recent stop on the mission, which has covered countries such as Mexico, South Africa and Venezuela, is Bangalore. "This is my way of giving back to society, and there is no gift better than education," says DeHaan. Unlike most other charitable programmes centred around children's education, the one offered by Christel House follows the child from elementary education to the workplace. "Children should not be denied education because of a lack of funds," she says. Happily for the young ones, DeHaan has ensured that her good work continues even after she's gone by funding the administrative costs of her NGO for perpetuity.

Second Time Lucky

Last year, Anand Mahindra watched as AGCO Corporation of the us outbid his Mahindra & Mahindra for the Finnish tractor firm Valtra. But his sweet victory has been quick in coming. Last fortnight, the Managing Director of M&M struck a deal with Jiangling Motor of China to spin off its tractor division into a joint venture, where the Mahindras will own 80 per cent of the $10-million equity. Although Jiangling Tractor will make only 12,000 tractors a year, it will give M&M a manufacturing base in China, besides access to the local market. Way to go, Mr. Mahindra.

Mid-name Makeover

Too much of tobacco, even if you are in the business of selling the stuff, can be bad for health. One man who figured this early on is cigarette giant ITC's Yogi Deveshwar. Since 1996, when he returned to take over as Chairman from K.L. Chugh, Deveshwar (he gave up smoking a few years ago) has led ITC into newer businesses, including clothing, FMCG and stationery. And now it seems he wants to venture into personal care products, where he'll clash with giants like HLL and P&G. Although highly profitable, the tobacco business is the favourite whipping boy of just about everybody-from governments to activists. Diversification, then, opens up not just newer avenues of revenue, but also respectability.

Brand Ambassador

Tarun Das may no longer show up for work at CII, but honours (amid, perhaps, consultancy offers) are finding their way to him. Early this month, Das, who retired in June this year as the Director General of India's foremost industry lobby, was conferred the 2004 Singapore National Day Award (Public Service Medal) by the Government of Singapore. The medal, one of Singapore's most prestigious national awards given to international personalities for their contribution to the Singporean economy, was given to Das also because he helped forge "a very special relationship" with the then Prime Minister (and now senior minister) Goh Chok Tong. Given that the city-state has made big investments in India via its private equity fund, Temasek, (besides investments by giants such as Singapore Telecom), Das may find it hard to go into retirement. He already retains the job of Chief Mentor at CII, but the award raises his stock even higher.

Right Chemistry

In the last one year, Shyam Bhartia has seen the stock of his company, Jubilant Organosys, soar from about Rs 300 to Rs 800-plus. No wonder, private equity investors are queuing up for a piece of the action. Recently, Bhartia got Citigroup's CVC International and Henderson Investment to cough up Rs 825 per share in a placement deal that'll fetch the company Rs 225 crore. What does he plan to do with all that money? "M&A and organic growth," says Bhartia, who's already promised his investors a 60 per cent growth in net profits in 2005. With such profit growth, it's a wonder he needs private investors at all.

Global Banker

On December 1, when Vishu Ramachandran moves base to Singapore from Mumbai, it will be a homecoming of sorts for him. Between 1999 and 2002, he was Standard Chartered's global product head for mortgages and auto, based out of Singapore. This time around, he's being sent to Singapore as the Chief Financial Officer of group consumer banking. It's a promotion well deserved. As the regional head of consumer banking in India, the 43-year-old grew the bank's key businesses such as mortgages and financial services and made it one of the top five players in the industry. Apparently, Ramachandran wants to lose no time in repeating his success in Singapore. No sooner was the appointment announced than he was in Singapore, making presentations to the bank's board members.

-Contributed by Kushan Mitra, Abir Pal, R. Sridharan and Roshni Jayakar