Preparing to meet the global challenge

Ashwin Dani took over as vice chairman of Asian Paints in turbulent times. It was August 1997, just after an abortive attempt by ICI India to buy a 9.5 per cent stake from Atul Choksey, representative of one of the families that promoted the company.

Mr Dani, a member of another of Asian Paints' promoter families, is not new to the paints business. Armed with a master's degree in polymer science from the University of Akron, Ohio, he rose through the ranks at Asian Paints to become works director of the company. Since he was pitchforked into the hot seat, he has shown he is capable of orchestrating the Rs 883 crore company that is India's number one paint maker.

Not satisfied with ensuring that Asian Paints performed well even as the economy slowed down, he has now prepared a plan to take Asian Paints to the number five position in the world in decorative paints. The unassuming Mr Dani talked to Saudamini Rao recently about his plans and strategies.
For 'Asian Paints in figures', .

On the company's performance
Our performance has always been superior to the industry's. See our latest half-yearly results, revenues rose 12.4 per cent to Rs 273 crore. That's better than the industry average, a trend that I expect to continue through the year. We have done well for ourselves.

There is scope to do better. That is why we have implemented Booz Allen & Hamilton's recommendations for restructuring. We want to acceleration growth. In the next five to seven years we would like to be the fifth largest decorative paint company in the world.