Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Living by the Seafarer's Code : Readers' Comment

I am all excited when I get a feedback from any of my readers! Here is one which I just received.

"Its good. It reminds me a book called “Bite the Bullet” by the longest serving chairman of ITC in 80s. He recounted that he actually sent his technical guys to VST Ltd. in Hyderabd, and trained people of their biggest competitor, the owner of “Charminar” brand and pulled them out of penury when things were not going all right. It actually helped ITC immensely in the long term as they became great friends and helped each other. It also helped both companies to grow despite immense competition.

This is the truth of life but to become that generous, you got to be a great person. Ajit Haksar not only made big cigarette brands like Wills and Gold Flake but also created the most recognized brand “ITC Sheraton” hotels and Bhukhara, Dam Pukht, finest restaurants of the group.

By the time he retired ITC become one of the biggest and most successful corporations in India. Nobody, then thought, BAT (British American Tobacco) Ltd. can transform itself to such a successful group.

Regards

Manoj Kumar
Instituitional Sales,
H & R Johnson India Limited,
Mumbai

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