Chairman of the Tata group of companies, Mr Ratan N. Tata, has been named the `Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2003' for having “achieved a makeover of far-reaching dimensions”.
Mr Tata will represent India at the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year Awards ceremony to be held in Monte Carlo, Monaco in June next year.
At a glittering banquet organised for the award function on Wednesday, Mr Tata received the coveted award from Mr L.K. Advani, Deputy Prime Minister, in the presence of Mr Arun Jaitley, Minister for Commerce and Industry, Mr N.R. Narayana Murthy, Chairman and Chief Mentor of Infosys Technologies, senior bureaucrats and Indian corporate honcho.
Mr Narayana Murthy was the recipient of the `World Entrepreneur of the Year Award' this year.
The citation for the award to Mr Tata stated: “Since he took over the reins of the Tata group in 1991, Mr Tata has achieved a makeover of far-reaching dimensions. From a relatively unwieldy conglomerate, Tata has now changed the complexion of the group to make it more nimble-footed and cohesive. Tata companies are now making their mark on the world stage. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is set to become the world's largest provider of end-to-end technology solutions; Tata Tea's acquisition of the Tetley brand in UK makes it the world's second largest tea marketer; Tata Steel is one of the world's lowest cost steel makers and Tata Motors, traditionally a truck maker, is today delivering best-selling passenger cars like the Sumo and the Indica.”
Winners are also selected in several other categories based on attributes such as entrepreneurial spirit, financial performance, strategic direction, global impact, innovation and personal integrity and influence.
The founder of the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation, Dr Verghese Kurien, received the `Lifetime Achievement Award' for making the milk co-operative movement a reality that has changed the lives of millions of farmers in the country.
Mr Ajay Piramal, Chairman, Nicholas Piramal, won the award in the healthcare and life sciences category while the award for manufacturing was given to Mr Ashwin Dani, who has made Asian Paints the country's top paint maker.
Mr Uday S. Kotak won the award in the services category for Kotak Mahindra Bank while Maruti Udyog's Mr Jagdish Khattar bagged the Manager Entrepreneur award.
Dr Devi Prasad Shetty of Narayana Hrudayalaya, Bangalore bagged the `Start-up Entrepreneur' award for providing healthcare to the masses.
In the information, communication and entertainment (ICE) category, the husband and wife team of Mr Prannoy Roy and Ms Radhika Roy of New Delhi Television (NDTV) was named the winner.
