Asia's most powerful and influential men: ReviewAsia recently published profiles and portraits of some of Asia's most influential and interesting men. Business Asia looks at some of the men who made the list

Business Asia, August, 2008 by Andre Khoury

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Ratan Tata

The Tata Group is one of India's oldest, largest and most respected business conglomerates. The group's businesses are spread over seven business sectors: communications and information technology, engineering, materials, services, energy, consumer products and chemicals. It comprises 98 companies and operates in six continents. It employs some 2,89,500 people and collectively has a shareholder base of more than 2.9 million.

Heading the Tata Group since 1991, Ratan N Tata is the chairman of Tata Sons, holding company of the Tata Group, and major group companies including, Tata Motors, Tata Steel, Tata Consultancy Services, Tara Power, Tata Tea, rata Chemicals, Indian Hotels, Tata Teleservices and Tata AutoComp. He is also chairman of two of the largest private sector promoted philanthropic trusts in India.

Mr Tata joined the Tata Group in December 1962. After serving in various companies, he was appointed the director-in-charge of The National Radio & Electronics Company Limited in 1971. In 1981, he was named chairman of Tata Industries, the group's other holding company, where he was responsible for transforming it into the group's strategy think-tank and a promoter of new ventures in high-technology businesses.

He is associated with various organisations in India and abroad in varying capacities, some of which are:

--Chairman, government of India's Investment Commission

--Member, Prime Minister's Council on Trade and Industry

--Member, National Hydrogen Energy Board

--Member, National

Manufacturing Competitiveness Council

--Serving on the International Investment Council set up by the president of the Republic of South Africa

The government of India honoured Mr Tara with one of its highest civilian awards, the Padma Bhushan, on Republic Day, January 26, 2000.

"Ratan Tata's face is immediately recognizable in Mumbai and in every corner of urban India," ReviewAsia reported.

"Tata, who turned 70 in December, is the chairman of the Tata Group, one of India's oldest and most venerated family conglomerates with annual revenues of nearly US$50 billion and profits of US$4 billion."

The magazine reported that the Tata's revenue was "rising rapidly" under Ratan's stewardship.

"Significantly, Ratan's achievement is twofold," the magazine said. The unveleiling of the Nano--the US$2,500 'people's car'--in January ... was preceded by a spate of acquisitions abroad since 2000 that turned the group into a global player.

"His strategic vision over the years has clearly shifted from the domestic to the international."

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Tony Fernandes

Tony Fernandes was appointed as group chief executive officer of AirAsia in December 2004. He was financial controller at Virgin Communications London from 1987 to 1989, senior financial analyst at Warner Music International London from 1989 to 1992, managing director at Warner Music Malaysia from 1992 to 1996, regional managing director, ASEAN from August 1996 to December 1999 and vice president, ASEAN from December 1999 to July 2001 at Warner Music South East Asia.

Fernandes was actively involved in developing the Malaysian music industry and received the title "Setia Mahkota Selangor" from His Royal Highness King of Malaysia Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah in 1999 in recognition of his contributions and was also the recipient of the "Recording Industry Person of the Year 1997" by the Recording Industry Association of Malaysia.

In addition, he was awarded the International Herald Tribune award for the Visionaries & Leadership Series in 2003 for his outstanding achievement with AirAsia, and was named "Malaysia CEO of the Year 2003" by American Express and the Business Times. Fernandes was awarded "Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Malaysia 2003" in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in 2004.

ReviewAsia said Fernandes can be credited with changing the nature of air travel business in Southeast Asia.

"Tony Fernandes took a brave step when he launched AirAsia in 2002 as the Asian aviation market is highly regulated," the magazine reported.

"The no-frills model ... is proving to be popular. The Malaysian carrier has extended its reach to the huge China market and next year, Fernandes plans to venture into India."

The magazine said Fernandes was also making his mark in the hotel, insurance and communication industries.

"If Fernandes keeps getting it right, he could end up touching, if not changing, more lives than any president or prime minister in Southeast Asia. Which begs the question: If entrepreneur Thaksin Shinawatra can become prime minister of Thailand, will the youthful Fernandes one day be prime minister of Malaysia?," the magazine asked.

"Stay tuned."

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Sir Howard Stringer

Sir Howard has been chairman and chief executive officer of Japan's Sony Corporation since June 2005.

Prior to joining Sony, Sir Howard had a distinguished 30-year career as a journalist, producer and executive at CBS Inc. As President of CBS from 1988 to 1995, he was responsible for all the broadcast activities of the company including entertainment, news, sports, radio and television stations. Under his leadership, the CBS Television Network became the first network to rise from last to first place in one season.