Venkatachari Jagannathan profiles J S Chopra, the septuagenarian head of TVS Delphi.

Chennai: It is rare to find an entire family of professional corporate presidents and CEOs in India. However, J S Chopra has the rare distinction of heading such a family.

While he is the president of Delphi TVS Diesel Systems Limited, his son Tejpreet Singh is the president and CEO of GE Commercial Finance India. And Chopra's wife Sangeet Chopra is also an entrepreneur managing her own furniture business. Their daughter Praneet Dubber is an architect.

The father and the son duo are alumni of New Delhi's prestigious St. Stephens College - while Chopra graduated in science, Tejpreet Singh studied economics.

After his graduation, Chopra went to Sheffield University, UK, for a BE (Hons) in electricals. He also completed post graduation in advanced engineering from Manchester College of Science and Technology and is a fellow of the Institute of Marketing and Management.

Currently Chopra is an executive committee member of Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA), and member of the governing council of the Automotive Research Association of India and Indian Society of Automotive Technology. In addition he is also a member of the governing council of the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Apart from his involvement with professional bodies, Chopra is equally well known in the sports administration; he is the vice president of the Tamil Nadu Olympic Association and president of the Tamil Nadu Aquatic Association.

His son Tejpreet Singh went to Cornell for an MBA after graduating in economics. Since joining GE in 1996, he has held positions in marketing, structured finance and risk management, at both Stamford and Hong Kong at GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS), the commercial aircraft leasing and financing unit of GE. He also managed global sales for the regional jet programme at GECAS.

On the extra curricular front he used to represent the Tamil Nadu state in swimming events. Similarly sister Praneet was also a state level swimmer.

So how does it feel with CEOs at home? "Nothing special," Chopra says. He agrees that the management styles and the philosophies would certainly differ. "Mine is in an old-economy company whereas Tejpreet Singh heads a retail finance company."

Business is rarely ever a topic of discussion at the family dining table. "Sometimes my son calls me up for clarifications on some thing. Otherwise at home we discuss only family affairs."

According to him, his passion for work is what continues to drive him even at 70.