Abhay Firodia's decision to rename Bajaj Tempo as Force Motors has brought him head on with the other big shareholder, the formidable Rahul Bajaj of Bajaj Auto. On his part, the Chairman and Managing Director of Bajaj Tempo says that it's an open and shut case. "We are merely following the name change directive issued to us, as erstwhile partner DaimlerChrysler has dissociated itself," says Firodia, 61. Bajaj, not in favour of a name change, plans to raise the issue at an extraordinary general meeting slated for April 5. Obviously, the Bard of Avon was dead wrong when he famously asked, "What's in a name?"

Banker's Booty

If you bumped into Harkirat Singh at one of the airports in Mumbai or London (he keeps shuttling between them), you'd be hard-pressed to recognise him. For one, Singh, a former promoter of Yes Bank, has dispensed with his turban and long hair (he wouldn't let us photograph him). For another, he's grinning from ear to ear. Two years after he dragged Rabo Bank, a Yes Bank promoter, to international arbitration for revoking his contract as the CEO of the proposed bank, he has won the case and a windfall in compensation (expected to be $45 million, or Rs 198 crore). What will he do with all that money? Possibly, start or buy a bank-if not, return as the CEO of a foreign bank.

A Shot In The Arm

Why should it take the chairman and managing Director of a Belgium-based pharma major to save two of Karnataka's most historic sites, Hampi and Srirangapatnam? Because Dr. Ajit Shetty traces his roots to the state (his mother still lives in Bangalore) and, well, he's got the money and the mind to do so. "I have visited these sites quite often and believe that they were in urgent need of preservation," says the boss of Janssen Pharmaceutica, which makes drugs for animals and crops, besides doing cutting-edge pharma research. Next on the cards for Shetty, who's married to the niece of Janssen founder: An R&D centre in India.

On To A New Ride

After four years at the helm of drug giant Pfizer's India subsidiary, Hocine Sidi Said is off to Brussels. This time around, though, the 40-year-old is joining a new company, UCB Group, and not another Pfizer outfit-running which in countries like Denmark, Egypt and Indonesia (besides India) kept him busy at Pfizer the last 19 years. What does UCB, a relatively small biopharmaceuticals firm, offer that Pfizer, the world's biggest drug maker, doesn't? A tremendous focus on innovation and key therapy areas, says Sidi Said, who will oversee emerging markets. As for his India experience, he says, "India is a tremendous lesson (in) humility for even the most experienced leaders." Hope that comes in handy in Brussels.

Changing Script

What do you do once you've done stints at most big television groups in the country? Turn entrepreneur? Well, that's exactly what Ravina Raj Kohli, ex-honcho at Star News, Sony Entertainment Television (set) and Channel Nine (the ill-fated Kerry Packer-Himachal Futuristsic venture), plans to do. Word is that the lady is launching an equally-owned content company in partnership with Martin Sorrell's ad conglomerate WPP. "Yes, there is something in the pipeline," is all Kohli would reveal when BT spoke to her. The proposed venture may have interests in television software, film production, even celebrity and event management. With WPP as partner, which will surely be looking at leveraging content for its clients' brands, Kohli's media management skills could help walk this content-advertising tightrope. But anyone who has known the pleasant, but tough-as-nails taskmaster Kohli will tell you that she is the right pick. The race for the title of India's content queen has perhaps begun in all earnest. Ektaa Kapoor had better watch out.

Sweating Equity

Max India stock was on fire last fortnight on speculation that Chairman Analjit Singh would once again be lowering his 10 per cent stake in Hutch Max Telecom, now that the government has allowed 74 per cent foreign ownership in Indian telcos. The rally not just added 27 per cent to the Max stock, but also Rs 164 crore to Singh's net worth. But the real question is, will Singh eventually bail out of the telecom business when Hutch goes for an IPO? While Singh was not available for comment, it's reasonable to expect that he will. After all, he's got two other key businesses of healthcare and insurance, both of which need dollops of cash to run. By the way, Hutch's stock price in Hong Kong is up too on the news. Now that's what Singh would call a win-win deal.

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