It is impossible to win the race unless you venture to run; impossible to grab the victory unless you dare to battle is a popular saying amongst entrepreneurs. And when top UK call center company Ventura decided to start operations in India in 2005, they zeroed in Anupam Arun and made him their man for India chapter. The choice was apt and the decision right, as the success of Ventura in India goes to prove. Beginning his professional career with Bank of America in 1995, Arun was involved in the launch of its retail operations in India. Later, Arun moved to ABN as assistant vice-president and regional sales manager, southern region based out of Chennai.

He also worked with GE Countrywide in 2000 as assistant vice president and regional business head, Delhi branch. It was in 2005 that call centre subsidiary Ventura announced that Arun would head its planned India operations. With £10 million pound in its kitty for the Pune centre, and 7,500 people-strong, Ventura decided it would not take a piecemeal approach for a fully voice-based call centre in India. "We have been present in a surrogate fashion since 2002 in Mumbai with a third party partner, so it was natural to move to Pune. But we wanted to take our time for understanding the value proposition before deciding to set up a base," Arun said after the company started its India operation on full-scale basis in June 2005.

But why Pune? "Since ours is a completely voice-based process, Pune gives us a good graduate catchments population. Besides, Pune culture gives more stability," Arun said. "We are bullish on India and that shows in the investment (£10 million) that we have committed." And he is having a busy time, recruiting youth for the operations. "We are hiring almost 20 people every week and will be close to 200 people when we go live with our operations. The ramp-up will continue at the same rate for the next six months and we hope to have 1,000 people by March 2006. We have a capacity to have 2,000 people as full time employees and this we hope to reach in 18 months", he said recently.

To begin with, Ventura will cater to Next Directory catalogue customers - the firm, through its 384 stores, sells clothing for men, women and children, housewares and furniture. Arun knows that he is the key to the company's success in India. He has his hands full and will have to use all the experience he has accumulated. Anupam's professional success can be measured from the awards and accolades he has won over the years. He is among the few recipients of the Special Achievement Award - GE Capital International Services (GECIS) for exemplary performance and Leadership Excellence Award for demonstrating extraordinary leadership. And it can be said without an iota of doubt that with a person like Arun heading the Ventura there is no call that will remain unattended.