Established during World War II with the vision of creating a long running institution, Blue Star is today India’s leading air-conditioning and refrigeration company boasting revenues of Rs 4,000 crore. The company which is celebrating its platinum jubilee year is looking to double its revenues to Rs 8,000 crore in the next five years. BW Businessworld’d Bhakt Vatsal Sharma caught up with the company’s top management including chairman Suneel Advani, MD Vir S. Advani and joint MD B. Thiagarajan to talk about the business, succession plan, and the road ahead, among other things.
How did your organisation come up with the name Blue Star and could you describe your journey of 50 years?
Suneel Advani: The company was established by my father during World War II. Companies like Larsen & Toubro, Mahindra & Mahindra already existed at that time, which were named after their founders. But my father wanted to build a company and an institution which would exist long beyond his lifetime. He didn’t know who were going to be the successors down the line so he chose a name that was uplifting, inspiring and aspiring to something greater and he thought of ‘Star’. The name still felt incomplete and after referencing names of colours he finally came up with ‘Blue’, which turned out to be apt for his interest towards the cooling business...
My journey so far has been exhilarating. A few days earlier, while speaking to my employees, I couldn’t recall one day in 50 years when I wasn’t excited to go to work. I never faced the Monday blues like many people. I and my elder brother followed the principles our father had laid down for himself and the dream of building an institution that would last forever. That vision drove the enthusiasm of taking Blue Star to the next phase of growth with the same principles that govern this company 75 years later.
With Blue Star gaining a huge market presence with its wide range of products, how do you wish to consolidate your achievements?
Bu hikaye Businessworld dergisinin February 16, 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Businessworld dergisinin February 16, 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
MEMORIES & IMPRESSIONS
Ratan Tata was an exceptional human being. He was a visionary leader, esteemed industrialist, and a humanitarian, who left an indelible mark on India and the world.
The Robotaxi Market
The robotaxi market is shaping up to be a high-stakes battleground as tech giants and automakers race to transform urban mobility.
And the Nobel Prize Goes to AI
The recent Nobel Prize T awards to AI pioneers affiliated with Google have sparked a broader conversation about Big Tech's influence on research and the limitations of traditional prize categories.
Ola Electrified
Once considered a trailblazer in India’s electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, Bhavish Aggarwal’s Ola Electric now faces a major accountability crisis.
Sharp Slide in Industrial Output on Eve of Deepavali
India’s index of industrial production (IIP) saw a sharp reversal in August, contracting by 0.1 per cent, in stark contrast to the 4.7 per cent growth in July, mostly because of significant contractions in mining and electricity generation.
Heralding the Solar Era with Sustainable Electrification
RAJEEV KASHYAP on the economics of solar power, the hurdles in scaling it, and much more
A WELL-GREASED MACHINE
The OmniBook X14 laptop runs on first-generation Snapdragon X Elite, which bets big on Al-enabled productivity and battery life, but falls short when it comes to overall experience, says Deep Majumdar
DO NOT LETA HEALTH CRISIS RUIN YOUR FINANCIAL HEALTH
For a family of four living in a metro, it is recommended to opt for a family floater health insurance plan with a sum insured of at least Rs 15-20 lakh
Disruption Ahead: Beyond Organisation Charts and Structures
ALBERT EINSTEIN FAMOUSLY said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Dr. Rahul Shivajirao Kadam: A Visionary Leader Blending Sustainability, Innovation, And Social Empowerment
We are on the stage of global warming, and these technologies not only help prevent further damage but also leave behind a better environment for future generations.
