Muthuram, a Tata Steel loyalist who started with the company as a graduate trainee in 1966, is known to be a keen strategist. With his thorough understanding of the domestic and global industry dynamics, Muthuraman has been able to quickly identify and analyse opportunities and synergies that would accrue from a global merger. He chose to be in Mumbai with his Ratan Tata at the company’s third quarter results announcement, lending him the requisite strategic back-up for going for the kill.

Fighting it out in London was Arun Gandhi, who is considered to be the brain behind the two high profile deals of Tata in recent times, its 30% acquisition in US-based Energy Brands and the Corus deal now. Gandhi, a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales, was senior partner at NM Raiji & Company for more than three decades before joining Tata in 2003. His experience in handling a variety of client engagements, including advisory services relating to mergers and acquisitions, have stood him in good stead in the Corus negotiations, insiders say. NA Soonawala, like Gandhi, was a key driver of the Corus deal. Soonawala is known for his financial acumen and handling of large funds, sources say. Also a chartered accountant who joined Tata in 1968, Soonawala is aided by Ishaat Hussain, the group CFO in advising the top management on the financial aspects of the big ticket acquisition.

Hussain handled finance at Tata Steel for a decade before joining Tata Sons. He was assisted by Tata’s VP Finance, Koushik Chatterjee, who was without doubt the most sought after Tata executive on Wednesday, and the media’s delight, explaining the nitty gritties of the deal in layman’s terms. Also lending advice to the deal were JJ Irani, a steel veteran who was MD of Tata Steel for close to a decade, R Gopalakrishnan, executive director of Tata Sons, and Alan Rosling, a former investment banker and international strategist.