Ravi Venkatesan, Chairman, Microsoft Corporation India, took over the reins of this august Office on February 18, 2004. Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software. Prior to joining Microsoft, he was the most successful CEO of Tata Cummins Ltd (TCL) in 1996 at age 33. He is credited with imparting a new vision, dynamism and investor-savviness to this company. His academic background, of course, is impeccable - IIT-Bombay in 1985, MS in Industrial Engineering from Purdue in 1986, and then MBA from Harvard in 1992. His 2-month summer stint was at Cummins India Ltd. (then Kirloskar Cummins) after which he worked for three-and-a-half years in CECO' Columbus plant as a Manufacturing Engineer.

He later returned to CECO after MBA. His career started as sourcing decisions for CECO. His first assignment in India was to rescue Tata Cummins Ltd, which he did with great success and in fact turned the corners. Subsequently, he was named CEO of Cummins' Indian Operations and Chairman of Cummins India Ltd in 1999. In an interview he said that the company has looked at sensible acquisitions but he believed that ‘CIL must first “earn the right to grow”’, by demonstrating better and sustained financial performance. As Chairman of Microsoft India he is directly responsible for Microsoft's marketing, sales, operational and business development efforts in India. Undoubtedly, he will provide a single point of leadership for Microsoft India, in partnership with leaders of Microsoft's other business units, in working with policy makers, customers and partners.

"I am delighted at the opportunity to lead Microsoft's businesses in India during this important and exciting time," Venkatesan said. "With its technology and resources, Microsoft is uniquely well-positioned to contribute to India's dynamic economic growth and social development. We have an excellent foundation and a passionate and experienced Indian leadership team in place, and I look forward to being part of it." Business Today illustrates Venkatesan as a "quiet" man who confesses that he often keeps awake at nights, dreaming of how to ‘achieve audacious goals.’ During his tenure at Cummins, analysts have credited him with the vision and ambition needed to transform Cummins from a strong engineering company to an IT-enabled, market-savvy company that has a big role to play in the global scheme of Cummins Engine, including serving the group's worldwide software requirements.

For this he used "a combination of engineering skills, out-of-the box thinking, and team work to forge a radical change in the organizational fabric of both companies." Such suaveness within, Venkatesan will provide strategic direction to all of Microsoft India and focus on the success of Microsoft's partners and customers in India. Venkatesan is a member of the Executive Council of the Society of Indian Automotive Manufacturing. He is the author of three articles published in the Harvard Business Review, namely "The Strategy that Wouldn't Travel", Strategic Sourcing – to Make or not to Make", and "Cummins Engine Flexes its Factories". An avid reader, Venkatesan devours two books a week (on everything but business). In fact he encourages his employees to engage in lifelong learning and training and to participate in hiring decisions. He is a member of several esteemed organizations, including Confederation of Indian Industry; Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers; Young Presidents' Organization and Governing Council, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. He was elected "Outstanding Industrial Engineer" for the year 2000 by Purdue University for his contributions to the field. With such a captain at its helm, Microsoft will continue to touch the pinnacles of success, in India as much.