Zodiac has inducted on its board ex-Procter & Gamble chief Gurcharan Das and ex-Hindustan Lever chairman SM Dutta. Besides, S Abid Hussain - an economist - and German banker Berhard Steinrucke have also been inducted on the board. HDFC chairman Deepak Parekh has been taken on the board as an alternate director.

Zodiac is aiming at consolidating its multi-product and multi-market policy with these big names as directors on the board. Zodiac Clothing managing director Anees Noorani said that the quality of experience of these eminent people in their respective disciplines has made substantial difference to the company. "From a small company, we have moved to big business in terms of capacity and quality," added Mr Noorani.

Mr Noorani said that Mr Gurcharan Das will look after the marketing function of the company in his capacity as a consultant. "He (Mr Das) has been involved with us for quite some time and is trying to build Zodiac as a brand slightly different from others," added Mr Noorani. Zodiac first launched ties and then moved on to the shirts segment. Today, it has shirts for every segment for every occasion, said Mr Noorani.

Mr SM Dutta - who has successfully carried out mergers and acquisitions in his previous stint as HLL's chairman - will endeavour to build the organisation (Zodiac) for the future. Zodiac has also roped in German banker from Berlin, Berhard Steinrucke on its board. Zodiac has a two per cent share in the German market and Mr Steinrucke is a guide on the company's operations outside India.

Mr Noorani added that Mr Steinrucke gives advice on the currency and also looks after the new business areas. "Mr Steinrucke is in charge of identifying new business areas and strategies on how to grow in these areas and also cautions to be adopted by the companies," said Mr Noorani.

Mr Hussain and Mr Parekh assist the company with their experience in the finances of the company. Since Mr Hussain has been in the central ministry, the administrative aspects of the company are benefited.

Zodiac hopes to consolidate itself further with the quota regime on import and exports out by 2005. "There will be a major shake-out but it will be survival of the fittest," he said, adding that Zodiac will do better as it has the capacity to deliver quality products.