Cover Stories

Unilever CEO, BITS alum, set to join RIL retail

In yet another high profile appointment, Reliance Industries is set to take Unilever Nigeria chief Gunender Kapur on board as the CEO of its foods and grocery division.

Kapur, who was earlier executive director of the foods business of Hindustan Lever before shifting to Nigeria, met RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani last week, sources close to the development said.

According to sources, the retail business of RIL will have as many as 25 high profile CEOs and over 150 middle rung professionals. The company is expected to pay nearly Rs 100-crore in salaries for the retail division alone in the first year of operations.

The sources said that RIL had drawn an ambitious diversification plan in the first half of last financial year to set up a mega retail chain, tentatively names Reliance Home.

A BITS Pilani alumni, Kapur was instrumental in Hindustan Lever's acquisition of Modern Foods for over Rs 100 crore six years ago. He was transferred to Unilever's Nigerian operations towards the end of 2004.

BITS Alum authors book on global economic and geopolitical issues

BITS alum, Dr. Rajendra S Sisodia and Dr. Jagdish N Sheth have authored a book, Tectonic Shift, which speculates on the world's economic and geopolitical future. While the world is still coming to grips with the implications of globalization, Tectonic Shift discovers the unfolding of an unprecedented realignment of forces.

Based on extensive study and analysis, the authors of this compelling book argue that regionalization will replace the much celebrated globalization, characterized by extensive North-South integration between developed and developing nations.

Rajendra S Sisodia is Professor of Marketing and the Founding Director of the Center for Marketing Technology at Bentley College, Waltham.

An electrical engineer from BITS, Pilani, Dr Sisodia has a PhD in Marketing and Business Policy from Columbia University.

His forthcoming books (all with Jagdish N Sheth) include Does Marketing Need Reform? , Firms of Endearment and The 4 As of Marketing.

In 2003, he was cited as one of the '50 Leading Marketing Thinkers' in the world by the UK-based Chartered Institute of Marketing.

BITSAA Events and Updates

List of 'Movers and Shakers' created by BITSAA, SVC

BITSAA, SVC has come up with a list of BITSian 'Movers and Shakers', which was put up on their website last month. This list has catalyzed huge interest amongst BITSians in the valley who have wanted to part of it. The list tells us that the Silicon Valley is home to:

- 21 BITSian CEOs and Entrepreneurs

- 18 BITSian VPs

- 8 BITSian Venture Capitalists

- 12 BITSian Directors

BITSAA SVC is one of the biggest BITSAA chapters in the world. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area of US (also known as the Silicon Valley), BITSAA SVC has been an active BITSAA chapter since 2000.

For a complete list of BITSAA, SVC's Mover and Shakers check here. More information on BITSAA, SVC can be found at www.bitsaa-svc.org.

BITSAA encourages the other chapters to create such lists, the end benefit of which will be the availability of a comprehensive database of global BITSian 'Movers and Shakers'.

BITSAA-SVC 7th Annual Reunion: "Power of the BITSAA Network"

Interested in starting a company? Looking to climb the next step on the career ladder? Want to network with the top Movers and Shakers in the Silicon Valley? Then the 7th annual BITSAA-SVC reunion is the place to be.

This year's reunion is all business. It's about starting new ventures and getting career advice from BITSian seniors. Come and witness the launch of the BITSAA SVC Entrepreneurship and Mentorship programs. Listen and learn how to contribute-to and harness the Power of the BITSAA Network.

When: Sunday, March 19, 2006 5:00pm - 10:00pm

Venue: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 777 Bellew, Milpitas, California 95035 (408) 321-9599

Agenda:

5:00  -   5:30          Registration

5:30  -   6:00          Networking Mixer

6:00  -   6:15          Welcome

6:15  -   7:05          Panel Discussion, "Power of the BITSAA Network for the BITSian Entrepreneur".

Panelists:

Prem Jain                Former SVP Cisco Systems

Punita Pandey                    CEO, netCustomer

Vivek Paul               Partner, TPG & Former CEO Wipro

Jayan Ramankutty   CEO, Yume Networks

Raju Reddy              CEO, Sierra Atlantic

7:05  -   7:20          BITSAA SVC Mentorship Program Launch

7:20  -   8:00          Dinner

8:00  -   9:00          Live Entertainment

9:00  - 10:00          DJ Dance floor

Tickets for the event are priced at $40/person. Reserve your tickets today by:

1. Making an online payment at www.bitsaa-svc.org
2. Sending a check to BITSAA - SILICON VALLEY, INC. 2000 Walnut Avenue, #M101  Fremont, CA - 94538   

Please note::

* This event is not suitable for young children.

* Cancellation Policy: Please note that a refund of 100% of the amount paid will be given for cancellation requests received via email to bits.svc@gmail.com no later than March 15^th, 2006. There will be no refund for cancellation requests after March 15^th, 2006.

* Contacts:
Ashish Garg 805.453.8379
Ashish Shah 650.996.9472

Shashikant Khandelwal 650.387.6381

Bharath Prabhakaran 408.394.7382
Chandra Bhople 408.482.9875

News of donation by alum

According Srikanth from BITSunami, Kanbay has donated 30 computers to help the organisation orchestrate its relief efforts. BITSAA thanks our alum Manoj Menon for facilitating the request that BITSunami had made.

BITSunami still needs the following for its field coordinator and  requests donors to come forward:

a) digital camera - used but in working condition with computer
connectivity - one number
b) laptop - used but in working condition - one number

The camera is an urgent requirement for daily usage. Donors who come forward to help this organisation that is doing stellar work for a noble cause will be greatly appreciated.

For further details please contact Srikanth of BITSunami (Mobile: 98401 55510).