At 35, venture capitalist Ashish Dhawan is a seven-year veteran with an impressive track record in India. In 1999, when Dhawan, then just 28, raised $65 million (then Rs 280 crore) to create an India-focussed fund, few would have taken note of the lanky six-footer. Fewer still would have guessed how big ChrysCapital, his VC firm, would grow. Then, in 2000-01's dotcom maelstrom, Dhawan lost most of what he had raised. But that's history. Today, Dhawan manages $1 billion across four funds and has helped found companies like Spectramind (now Wipro BPO), Suzlon and MphasiS. And anonymity has made way for international accolades: recently, the UK-based Private Equity International judged ChrysCap to be India's best private equity firm. Tip: Don't take your eyes off Dhawan.

Living Lean

For years now, K. Mahesh has barked only one word at the engineers and workers at his Sundaram Brake Linings. That is, lean. For the uninitiated, that means eliminating waste from all work processes. But one thing Mahesh, 63, long ignored was to use the word on himself. Until now, that is. Starting early this year, the hobby photographer decided to go on a diet and lower his weight from 114 kg to first 90 and then 80. Incredibly, he (helped by a daily diet comprising soup, boiled vegetables, and brown rice) has done it. "The blood that was going to my stomach is now going to my brain," guffaws Mahesh in his trademark full-throated voice. Inspiring? You bet.

Back To The Family

At us auto giant ford motor company, the man whose name is on the building may have just handed over the CEO's responsibility to an outside professional. But at the Rs 7,400-crore Murugappa group, it's the opposite that seems to be happening. After years of experimenting with a pro as Executive Chairman of the group's corporate board, a family member is back in the driver's seat. On September 18, Vice Chairman M.A. Alagappan, 62, took over from P.S. Pai, a Wipro veteran of 23 years. Incidentally, he takes over after two stints by two non-family outsiders at the helm-Pai and before him N.S. Raghavan, a former Infosys honcho, who was Executive Chairman for just over a year-and-a half at Murugappa. But now, with another family member, A. Vellayan, expected to take over as CEO, the top jobs are clearly back with the kin.

Are They Serious?

What's with IIM-Ahmedabad's current infatuation with politicians? Of course, we aren't talking about Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh, but of two gentlemen from Bihar. After roping in Union Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav to speak to students at the institute, it's now the turn of his bete noire Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to teach a thing or two to the students of India's premier B-school. Come November and Kumar, 55, a graduate of National Institute of Technology, Patna, will be on campus to address students from over 20 leading B-schools from across the world. Meanwhile, later this month, Kumar's one-time mentor Yadav, 58, too is slated to speak at IIM-A about how he saved the Railways. If you're wondering what Kumar will talk about, it's reforms in Bihar. That's right; it's something to ponder about.

Choco Czar

Seventy-year-old Klaus Jacobs is not only the Chairman of the world's largest temp firm, Adecco (revenues: $24 billion or Rs 1,12,800 crore) but he also owns the world's biggest chocolatier, Barry Callebaut, which he formed in 1996 when he merged his Belgian company, Callebaut, with its French rival, Barry. But multi-billionaire Jacobs is a quiet philanthropist as well. In 2001, long before luminaries like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet made big-ticket giving look glam, Jacobs donated $800 million (then Rs 3,760 crore) to charity. Here to review Adecco's local operations, Jacobs was thinking manpower crunch not charity. "There's a shortage of good people, always." Indian business would agree.

New Storyboard

After 25 years in the advertising business, Ishan Raina has decided to try his hand at "something he's never done before". Eschewing his executive role as Euro-RSCG's head honcho, Raina, 48, is partnering global private equity firm 3i where he'll be entrepreneur-in-residence, identifying projects in the media domain for the firm to invest in. Starting with investments to the tune of $20-40 million (Rs 94-188 crore), Raina hopes to up the ante as opportunities open up. "3i likes to do big-ticket deals and they'll not shy away from investing more depending on the company and the opportunity at hand," says the advertising veteran who will continue as non-executive Chairman and partner. From making ads to funding ventures. That's a new one.

-Contributed by Aman Malik, R. Sridharan, Shivani Lath and Venkatesha Babu