Vikram Pandit is very much in the news having been appointed CEO of Citigroup – the world’s largest bank. Founded in 1812, Citi has operations in 100 countries and employs over 300, 000 people. It has revenues of $ 147 billion and assets of $ 1.9 trillion.
A report in the Times of India highlights the fact that 15 out of the Fortune 100 companies are run by foreign-born executives, including three of Indian origin. Pandit joins the list of Indians in CEO positions like Indra Nooyi of Pepsico, Arun Sarin of Vodafoene, Ramani Ayer of Hartford Financial and Shantanu Narayen of Adobe Systems.
Most India-born executives readily acknowledge their debt of gratitude to a society that emphasizes industry and hard work and honed their survival skills, if nothing else. Times of India quotes Ramani Ayer as saying” I have benefited from my Indian background. Growing up in a very simple family with a real passion for hard work. In other words, you never stopped working. Work was liberating and work was part of what defined who you were”.
Undoubtedly, India’s traditionally strong family based values have helped these executives. Vikram Pandit’s 84 year old father had some nice things to say about his son in an interview in the Times of India.
People at Work & Play 