MxMIndia

Tag: Azim Premji

  • Globally, Gutenberg services industries such as technology, financial services, real estate, healthcare, education, aviation, defence, hospitality, infrastructure and not-for-profit causes

    Gutenberg Communications names Radha Radhakrishnan as Country Head for India

    By A Correspondent

     

    Strategic communications firm Gutenberg Communications has appointed Radha Radhakrishnan as Country Head for India. “I am delighted to have Radha join as part of our global leadership team to lead our India business. She brings a unique strategic perspective to communications and understands the evolving digital landscape and global nature of communications. Radha will lead our aggressive growth and expansion plans for India and will work closely with our clients across our five offices in India. Additionally, she will integrate with our US and UK teams on global multi-geography clients,” said Harjiv Singh, CEO and Co-Founder Gutenberg Communications.

     

    Radhakrishnan brings over 20 years of experience in integrated marketing communications, journalism, advertising and content development. Prior to Gutenberg, she was with Wipro Limited handling Corporate Communications for Wipro Corporate. She has also worked with the AzimPremji Foundation and AzimPremji University, leading the communications and engagement function.

     

    “I have witnessed Gutenberg’s stellar growth as a former client over the last 12 years. The communications industry is witnessing a rapid evolution, with digital at the centre of every marketing need. At Gutenberg, storytelling is at the core of our approach to being a digitally integrated communications firm. I am excited to work with our clients and teams,” said Radhakrishnan.

  • A big salaam to Azim Premji. One thing's for sure: He must definitely sleep well at night, certainly better than a whole lot of other Indian industrialists. Sharing happiness can do that to one, others should try it out

    Anil Thakraney: Role Model Premji

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    I have always harboured a major grouse about our tagda industrialists: Which is that our kanjoos sethjis abhor the idea of sharing money. Hoarding wealth seems to be a part of the great Indian culture, and that habit really stinks in a third world nation like India where millions of people crave for a roti, where many have no torn blanket to cover themselves with in bitter cold. Whatever little charity is done is actually naam ke vaaste effort, aimed at gaining quick brownie points on Page 3.

     

    Which is why I was shell shocked when I read the news about Azim Premji’s decision to transfer millions of Wipro’s equity shares, worth Rs. 12,300 crore (wow!), to a trust. A trust that will do philanthropy, focusing mainly on primary education. In fact, Premji has already donated a percentage of his personal stock in Wipro for social work. So the latest donation is over and above that! This is simply sensational news, because, as I said, richie rich Indian people don’t like sharing, in fact they don’t seem to even care what the have-nots think. A good example is that extremely distasteful monstrosity called Antilla in South Bombay. As someone said, that’s the owner’s way of showing the finger to India’s starving masses.

     

    Anyway, all we can do is puff up our chests with pride knowing that we have a Premji in our midst. And the rest of the tycoons can hang their heads in shame. Apparently the government is working on a proposal to slap higher taxes on the super rich. I am quite doubtful if this will ever happen, the super rich enjoy too much clout in the corridors of power, they will be able to quickly demolish such a plan. But am hoping it happens. If our bada seths aren’t going to loosen their purse strings for charity work, then we have to find a way to force them to do it. It’s only fair.

     

    So, a big salaam to Azim Premji. One thing’s for sure: He must definitely sleep well at night, certainly better than a whole lot of other Indian industrialists. Sharing happiness can do that to one, others should try it out.

     

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    PS: Ah! A kindly clock that gives us second chances, and freezes important moments in our lives. What would we not give to get our hands on such a marvel? I would freeze the moment when Shri Advani started out his Rath Yatra, and took the nation down the tube. I won’t allow the Rath to move an inch. Cool ad from Guinness. And wonderfully shot too.

    [youtube width=”400″ height=”220″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAaNbzydxiA[/youtube]

     

     

     

  • Ten outstanding people were honoured for their contribution towards the good of society

    Azim Premji wins Forbes India’s inaugural philanthropy award

    By A Correspondent

     

    Azim Premji with the jury (L-R): Abraham Moses, Sanjiv Sarin, MV Subbiah, AN Singh, Bhawarlal Jain, Narayanan Vaghul, Nachiket Mor, Lord Raj Loomba, Ashish Dhawan, Dr Madhav Chavan, Gurmeet Singh

    Azim Premji, chairman of Wipro Ltd, won the inaugural Forbes India Philanthropy Award in Outstanding Philanthropist category for 2012. Mr Premji, 67, the third richest Indian with a net worth of $12.2 billion, has pledged close to $2 billion from his personal wealth to Azim Premji Foundation, which is working to improve elementary education across India. He was among the ten outstanding individuals who received the award under different categories.

     

    The philanthropy awards were instituted by Forbes India to recognize the efforts of individuals who have given time, money, skill and expertise to solve some of the most pressing societal issues, to create model institutions and to inspire others. The winners received their awards – metalwork keepsakes depicting the Mubhi Tree, which symbolises the art of giving – at an event in Bangalore on Wednesday.

     

    “Our hope is that business should emerge as a strong force for good in this country and that our list of nominees for each of the ten categories will continue to grow as more and more people from the world of business step up and find new exciting ways to give back to society,” Indrajit Gupta, editor of Forbes India, said during the event.

     

    Mr Premji spoke about how his foundation’s university, which has 230 students and 70 professors, complements the field work they do in education. “Our objective is that we have to get more results and to scale up much more significantly in the grassroot level in the field,” he said. Later, he joined his fellow winners N Vaghul, former chairman ICICI Bank and MV Subbiah, former chairman Murugappa Group in a fireside chat to discuss what it takes to build a network of engaged corporate citizens, deepening the culture of giving back, galvanising corporate action, and how to take philanthropy in India to the next level. The session was moderated by Subroto Bagchi, chairman and co-founder Mindtree.

     

    In yet another fireside chat, Nachiket Mor, Chairman of the Board of Directors, SughaVazhvu, Ashish Dhawan, Founder and CEO of Central Square Foundation and Ramji Raghavan, founder Agastya International, discussed the challenges that philanthropists face when they work with multiple stakeholders, especially the government, in bringing about change. Ajit Rangnekar, dean of the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad, moderated the session.

     

    The event was attended by entrepreneurs, executives and academics with interest and passion for philanthropy and social good. They shared their views on themes related to philanthropy. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, chairman and managing director of Biocon said that philanthropy is about making changes, and partnerships play a crucial role in that. Mr Mohandas Pai, Chairman of Manipal Global Education, and one of the driving forces behind Akshayapatra a mid-day meal programme, said he was motivated to do more when he realised that he was lucky to have won ‘the ovarian lottery’, many others aren’t so fortunate. Lord Raj Loomba, founder of clothing company Rinku Group, whose foundation works for the cause of widows, said his inspiration was the story of his mother, who became a widow when Raj Loomba was just 10 years old.

     

    The latest edition of Forbes India devoted to philanthropy was also released. Containing features on philanthropy with detailed case studies about each of the award winners, the special edition has four covers, featuring four of the winners Azim Premji, N Vaghul, MV Subbiah and Ashish Dhawan and a caption that runs across four covers: Philanthropy, done right, is too important to restrict to one cover.

     

    Speaking on the occasion, Gurmeet Singh, CEO, Forbes India said, “We at Forbes India strongly believe that Wealth and Philanthropy are two sides of the same coin. Therefore it was logical that we scaled up our earlier events on “Purpose Of Wealth”, “Business as a Force For Good” and “Conscious Capitalism” into a full-fledged Philanthropy Awards Evening.  Forbes India Philanthropy Awards and Dinner was a very well attended evening bringing India’s biggest philanthropists, guides and catalysts on the same platform and exploring what motivates leaders to embrace philanthropy and how India Inc needs to bring a stronger giving culture”.

     

    The winners were selected by a jury comprising of Narayanan Vaghul, Former Chairman, ICICI Bank, Madhav Chavan, Founder and CEO, Pratham, Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament and Dr Devi Shetty, Founder Chairman, Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospitals.

     

    The complete list of award categories and winners:

     

    Outstanding Philanthropist:

    The flagship award recognises an outstanding individual whose leadership and contributions of time, money, skill and expertise has brought in new thinking into solving complex social issues.

    Winner: Azim Premji, Chairman, Wipro Ltd

     

    Outstanding Corporate Foundation

    This award honours foundations that have taken up a social issue and have long term vision, strategy, a sustainable model and have created significant impact in their chosen areas.

    Winner: Tata Trusts

     

    Distinguished Family of the year

    This award honours families who have dedicated their private wealth for public good and benefited an institution or organisation in recognisable and sustainable ways across different generations

    Winner: Murugappa Family

     

    NextGen leader in Philanthropy

    This award recognises the accomplishments and contributions of emerging leaders in philanthropy, those who have signaled their intent through meaningful giving, have also begun to contribute significant time, skills and resources to the causes they have helped advance.

    Winner: Ashish Dhawan, Founder, Central Square Foundation

     

    Cause Marketing

    This award is for a company that has successfully marketed products or services in conjunction with a charity and brought significant benefits to both parties.

    Winner: Tata Tea – Jaago Re

     

    Corporate Catalyst

    This award is for a senior business leader who has used his influence to promote the cause of giving back not just in his or her company, but also across the entire industry.

    Winner: N Vaghul, Former Chairman, ICICI Bank

     

    The Good Company

    This award recognises pioneering strategic initiatives undertaken by large business corporations, where they have used market-based models to balance the twin objectives of doing well, while also doing social good.

    Winner: Jain Irrigation Systems

     

    The Good Samaritan Award

    This award is for an exceptional individual at any level in a company who has successfully led and galvanised support within the organisation to mount programs that help more people within that organisation to support worthy causes and give back to society.

    Winner: Abraham Moses, Director, Administration & Facilities, MindTree Consulting

     

    Distinguished Non-Resident philanthropist

    This award is for a non-resident Indian who has contributed significantly to a social cause in India, by giving wealth, time and expertise.

    Winner: Raj Loomba, Loomba Foundation

     

    The Crossover Leader

    This award seeks to recognise a professional who has successfully made the transition from a thriving career in the corporate world to work for the social or not-for-profit sector and has served as an inspiration and role model for others.

    Winner: Nachiket Mor, Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors at SughaVazhvu