Godrej group appoints facilitator for succession plan

Mumbai, July 13, 2009
Financial Chronicle
FMCG major Godrej Group took the first step to work out succession plan for the Rs 10,000-crore conglomerate by appointing a facilitator.
Adi Godrej" We have appointed a facilitator. However, since the matter is intra-family, I would not like to reveal the identity of the facilitator," Godrej Groups Chairman Adi Godrej said.

The year 1964, when Adi Godrej joined the company was just a Rs 10-crore entity and since then it has grown manifold to be regarded as one of the country's best FMCG firm.

Adi Godrej, who is the Chairman of the company, is the third generation to run the 112-year Godrej Empire along with his younger brother Nadir and cousin Jamshyd.

The fourth generations was now making inroads into the management of the company. Prominent among them are Adi's daughter Tanya Dubash, who heads strategic marketing and media across the Group. She was instrumental in the recent rebranding of the Group.

Adi's second daughter, Nisaba, looks after strategy across the Group and particularly at Godrej Agrovet. His son, Pirojsha, looks after Godrej Properties, which is likely to come up with an initial public offering in the next few months.

Jamshyd's son Navroze is with Godrej & Boyce.

The succession plan may see Tanya leading the pack as she has proved herself over the years and is the only member in the 11-member group management committee responsible for taking the Godrej Group forward, analysts said.

Godrej Consumer Products and Godrej Industries are the listed entities among the group while Godrej Agrovet, Godrej & Boyce, Godrej Infotech, Godrej Properties, Godrej Sara Lee, Geometric Software Solutions, Godrej Hicare and Godrej Efacec are unlisted entities.

All the Godrej Group companies are run by professionals and non-family CEOs. Hence, the new generation might not be holding responsibilities to run the empire on day-to-day business.