The Explorer

When Ashok Sinha took charge as its chief in 2005, Bharat Petroleum Corporation was at a crossroads. It had little freedom in selling its products at market prices. With the government showing no inclination to free petrol and diesel from price control, BPCL had to find alternative streams of revenue. Its attempt to explore for oil and gas in India proved frustrating. Then, Sinha made a daring attempt to take BPCL global. Sinha's early strides, especially in Brazil and Mozambique, have opened a new chapter in exploration for this refiner.

Not Too Big to Digest

Almost a year after Havells India acquired Sylvania, a company 1.5 times bigger than itself, it looked like Havells would lose all. The global economic crisis was in full swing; Sylvania was running up huge operational losses; banks wanted their money back. But things are different now. Havells' restructuring plan for Sylvania is bearing fruit and the company is now ready to move to the next stage.