Leadership news from Tata Global Beverages

Tata Global Beverages announced that Mr. Cyrus P Mistry, Deputy Chairman of Tata Sons has been inducted to the Board of Tata Global Beverages Limited as a Director.

Mr. Darius Pandole has joined the Board of Tata Global Beverages Limited as an Independent Director. Mr. Pandole holds a BA (Economics) degree from Harvard (1988) and an MBA from the University of Chicago (1992). He is a Partner at New Silk Route Advisors Pvt. Ltd, a private equity firm focused on investing in India and other Asian economies. Mr. Pandole had earlier worked with Kraft General Foods in the US and returned to India in 1993 and managed the operations of his family owned soft drinks business, Duke and Sons Limited, which was a market leader in Western India. He served as Managing Director of IndAsia Fund Advisors Pvt. Ltd., the Indian advisor to the AMP-IndAsia India Fund – a private equity fund established in partnership with AMP of Australia. Mr. Pandole joined IDFC PE Ltd. in February 2003, and was the Executive Director, and later Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Pandole is currently an elected member of the Executive Committee of the Indian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association.

Mr. Harish Bhat has been appointed CEO and Managing Director of Tata Global Beverages Limited with effect from 1st July 2012. Mr. Bhat will take over from Mr. Percy Siganporia who retires on 30th June 2012. Mr. Harish Bhat holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad where he was ranked first in the graduating batch, winning the IIMA Gold Medal for Scholastic Excellence and also holds a B.E. (Hons.) degree in Electrical and Electronics from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, where he graduated first class with distinction and was ranked first in the graduating batch. He joined the Tata Group as TAS probationer in 1987 and has completed 25 years. He was previously with Tata Tea Limited from 1988 to 2000 holding various positions. Most recently he was with Titan Industries Limited as Chief Operating Officer – Watches & Accessories Division where he led the world’s fifth largest watches business with success. Mr. Bhat was awarded the British Chevening Scholarship for Young Managers by Govt. of United Kingdom in 1997. He is a prolific writer with over 100 published articles on economics, marketing, humour and is currently engaged in writing a book on the Tata group, which is in final draft stages.

Mr. Siganporia, also a senior TAS officer, joined the company in 1975 and held several important positions during his tenure. His tenure included responsibilities in Sales & Marketing in the Packet Tea Division, Kolkata and recently in the Executive Office, London. He successfully led critical change initiatives across Tata Global Beverages and has played a key role in Tata Global Beverages' transformation from its heritage in tea plantations in India to a growing global organisation with a portfolio of strong and dynamic brands. Mr. Siganporia retires after 38 years of distinguished service in the Tata Group.

About Tata Global Beverages

Tata Global Beverages is a global beverage business and the world’s second largest tea company. The group’s annual turnover is US$1.4bn and it employs over 3,000 people worldwide. The company focuses on ‘good for you’ beverages and has a stable of innovative regional and global beverage brands, including: Tata Tea, Tetley, Himalayan natural mineral water, Good Earth and Eight O’clock coffee. For more information please visit www.tataglobalbeverages.com

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