At a time when industrialists are stepping down or handing over the reins to the younger generation, 78-year-old Rahul Bajaj said he has no plans to retire. The Chairman of the business conglomerate Bajaj Group said he will continue as long as the Almighty desires.

“I have been in business for 50 years, and last year when they told me I have been with Bajaj Auto for 50 years, I don’t know whether they meant when am I leaving? …but I won’t, till He calls me,” Bajaj said.

He was speaking at the 108th annual general meeting of Indian Merchants’ Chamber (IMC).

Bajaj is also a Member of Parliament and a Padma Bhushan awardee. An accomplished businessman, Bajaj, heads the Bajaj Group, which has presence across sectors ranging from auto to home appliances, wind energy, consumer finance and asset management among others.

Succession in other firms

Last week, putting speculation over his retirement to rest, ITC Chairman YC Deveshwar announced his intention to step down from his executive role in February next year. However, Deveshwar, who has been at the helm for more than two decades, will continue to stay on as non-executive Chairman until 2020.

Earlier in May, engineering and construction firm Larsen and Toubro’s (L&T) Chairman AM Naik said that a new Chairman is being groomed and will take over on October 1, 2017. Naik, who had joined the company in 1965, was named Managing Director and CEO in 1999, and was made Chairman in 2003.

‘Jobs needed’

Bajaj, who addressed the IMC gathering on the topic ‘Changing India in a Changing World’, spoke on various topics including wealth creation and the political scenario in the country.

“Foremost, what we need is employment,” he said, stressing on the need for creating jobs, which in turn will create wealth. “About 12 million people are coming into the labour market every year, and more than job seekers, what we need are job creators,” he added.

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