At work, G.V. Prasad, Co-Chairman and CEO of Dr. Reddy's Labs can take both the wide-angle and the close-up view - different mentors taught him the value of each.
What enables Mariwala, 63, to multi-task so well? He says simply that he is "wired" to do many things at the same time.
Kumar Mangalam Birla wanted Idea Cellular to be among the top three mobile operators in India. Himanshu Kapania made that happen.
The economy has gone through a rough patch in the recent past. These CEOs have led their organisations against all odds.
As part of the top management, Mistry played a major role in HDFC's forays into banking, insurance and asset management.
There is work, and there is life. India's best CEOs share their mantras for work-life balance.
Mindtree has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 27 per cent in revenues and 65 per cent in profit after tax over the last three years.
Today, the efficient practices started by Shree Cement are being emulated even by its competitors. The cement industry may have seen many mergers and acquisitions but the company's growth has been essentially organic.
What sets GMR Group apart has been Rao's deft moves to sell non-core assets for a profit, bringing down debt even as he seeks newer models to leverage the existing assets.
While most Indian drugmakers talk of copycat biotech drugs called biosimilars being the future of medicine, Glenn Saldanha, CMD, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals is focused on novel biologics, or innovative biotech drugs.
Kaveri Seed produces and markets around 50 of its own hybrids. The company has invested around seven per cent of its profit, Rs 14 crore to Rs 15 crore, in R&D last year.
Bali's focus on the health-plus-taste agenda worked and the company's revenue quadrupled to Rs 6,342 crore in 2013/14 from Rs 1,615 crore in 2005/06.
In almost every way, Royal Enfield's balance sheet and bikes mirror Siddhartha Lal as a person and leader.
Salil Singhal is focused on making PI Industries a billion-dollar chemical company, growing its presence in key business verticals.
Mahindra Finance has transformed from being a captive finance company to becoming India's largest non-banking finance company in the rural and semi-rural areas.
OP Puranmalka ensured growth for the company in these tough times through a series of capex initiatives such as brownfield expansion, new captive power plants and acquisitions.
TCS CEO N Chandrasekaran is a gadget freak. He says everything the company would do from now on would have a digital flavour.
This is Business Today's third ranking of India's Best CEOs. In 2012, we published our first ranking, in partnership with INSEAD and HBR.
The king is dead, long live the commoner. May she also stay out of CAG reports.
Mehan says his approach to business has been influenced by his interactions with industry leaders over time.
The CEO of Petronet LNG, the country's biggest gas importer, has luck on his side. His tenure, which started in 2010, has coincided with the country moving towards greener fuel, and the global gas prices calming down.
Bhadresh Shah raised Rs 148 crore by selling shares of AIA to the public at Rs 315 a piece. The shares are now trading close to Rs 1,100 on stock exchanges.
India faces a number of obvious and some behind-the-curtain problems. But these very sectoral challenges can act as a call for solutions that can spur growth.
To scale up, Kumar has made two acquisitions. In July, Strides bought a majority stake in the Bafna Pharmaceuticals. In Sept, the firm inked another deal with Shasun Pharma.
Under Anand Mahindra's leadership, M&M is scaling up its existing businesses and also betting big on new ones.
From the Editor: December 7, 2014
Business Today Editor Prosenjit Datta discusses India's Best CEOs for 2014 and tells you why you must buy the new magazine issue.Tanya Dubash on Godrej's Masterbrand campaign
As the Godrej Group gets all set for the second phase of its Masterbrand campaign, Tanya Dubash shares the group's advertising and marketing strategy with Business Today.
Letters to the Editor: Dec 21, 2014
Business Today readers give feedback on magazine's coverage of the December 7, 2014 issue.Several PSUs have been running in loss for years
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has reportedly started the process to shut down some loss-making central public sector enterprises (CPSEs).Sebi overhauls insider trading regulations
The new rules may appear stringent but it is an attempt by Sebi to assert its authority. The earlier rules did not give it adequate powers.Kotak deal shifts focus to bank consolidation
There are expectations from the new government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi that bank consolidation will gather steam.