The Hindu Business Line : The `thinker behind the throne'

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Chennai Jan. 31 Who is Mr Arun Gandhi? Google News may tell you about the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi who shared `his knowledge of the legendary advocate of non-violence in a satellite seminar' last week at Bismarck State College, in the Student Union Prairie Room. But we are now talking about a different Arun Gandhi, of Corus fame: Mr Arunkumar Ramanlal Gandhi, Director of Tata Sons who played a key role in clinching the deal against CSN.

He is one of India's leading chartered accountants and has managed to maintain a low profile for almost four decades, describes a report on http://news.moneycontrol.com. "An expert in auditing, taxation and due diligence, Mr Gandhi is better known for his valuation and negotiation skills, making him the best bet that the Tata Group could have against CSN."

Mr Gandhi became an Executive Director in Tata Sons in August 2003, and is a member of the Group Corporate Centre, informs a Web site of Tata Sons Ltd. "He is a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales, and that of India. He is an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, London."

Commenting about the achievement of Mr Gandhi, the incoming president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Mr Sunil Talati, says, "This confirms our assertions that the role of CAs is not restricted only to accounts and audit and taxation. They are now looked upon as complete business service providers or BSPs. These days, CAs are part of the management team."

Before joining Tata Sons, Mr Gandhi was a senior partner at Messrs N. M. Raiji & Company, for decades - from 1969 to 2003. In the CA firm, which has more than 60 years of professional standing, Mr Gandhi had handled `a variety of client engagements, including advisory services relating to mergers and acquisitions,' informs Tata Sons. "He was also involved with the tax advisory for both national and international issues, structuring efficient investment routes, designing employee stock option plans and statutory, internal and management audits."

According to sources in the CA profession, Mr Gandhi has a forward-looking attitude, and is open to new ideas. "Generally he likes to work as a team among persons whom he can trust. He carries people with him," reminisces a veteran CA in practice.

A page on www.directorsdatabase.com (a corporate governance initiative of BSE) informs that the 63-year-old Mr Gandhi is an independent director on the boards of Paper Products Ltd and Ultra Tech Cement Ltd. He is a non-independent director on the board of two listed companies, viz. Bayer Diagnostics India Ltd and Benares Hotels Ltd. Unlisted Indian companies/organisations that have Mr Gandhi on the board are E2E Serwiz Solutions Ltd, Raychem RPG Ltd, Tata Asset Management Ltd, Tata Infotech Ltd, and Tata Sons Ltd. Mr Gandhi is also on the board of four foreign companies/organisations, viz. Imacid S.A., Morocco; Tata Tea (GB) Ltd; Tata Tea Inc, US; and VSNL Singapore Pte Ltd.

These apart, Mr Gandhi is on the panel of arbitrators of the Indian Merchants' Chamber and is part of the advisory council of the Premchand Roychand Group of Companies. Mr Sushil K. Premchand, senior Partner of Premchand Roychand & Sons says, "Arun's involvement with us arises out of his personal association with me, from his previous avatar as a partner in a leading accounting firm. Over the years, Arun has helped our establishment (small, but with a 150-year history) in many ways, as regards financial strategies, transaction structuring, etc." The history of the Premchand Group began in Bombay in 1856, informs www.premchand-group.com.

"I have the highest regard for Arun - and am delighted that his relatively recent association with Tatas has resulted in such an accumulation of successful transactions for Tatas," notes Mr Premchand. "Today's announcement of the successful acquisition of Corus by Tata Steel caps all his achievements hitherto! I congratulate Arun, as the `thinker behind the throne'!"

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