Cairn India and its erstwhile promoter Cairn Energy of UK are among the firms that have been shortlisted to bid for Lebanon?s maiden auction of exploration licences for offshore oil and natural gas. This is the first time that the two firms will be in direct competition since the Indian unit was bought by Anil Agarwal-owned Vedanta Resources. Cairn India and Cairn Energy are among the 34 companies qualified to bid as non-operators for up to 10 blocks being offered in the bid round. ONGC Videsh is the only other Indian firm to have been qualified to bid as a non-operator.
Nitin Nohria is Tata Sons? non-executive director
Tata Sons has appointed Nitin Nohria, the dean of Harvard Business School, as a non-executive director of Tata Sons. Nohria has been the dean of Harvard Business School since July 2010. He is also the George F Baker professor of business administration. He previously served as co-chair of the HBS Leadership Initiative, senior associate dean of faculty development and head of the organisational behaviour unit of Harvard Business School. The appointment is effective from September 6.
Ashok Leyland appoints CEO for UK bus arm
Ashok Leyland has appointed industry veteran Enrico Vassallo as CEO of its UK bus subisidiary Optare, in a bid to fuel its overseas expansion plans. The Yorkshire-based Optare is one of Britain?s leading bus makers and is 75% owned by Ashok Leyland. Ashok Leyland has been aggressively tapping a slew of overseas bus markets mainly through Optare. Vassallo replaces PG Nilsson, who has been the interim CEO since January 1.
Vikram Kirloskar elected president of Siam
Vikram Kirloskar has been elected president of Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam), the apex industry body representing leading vehicle and vehicular engine manufacturers in India. Ashok Leyland managing director Vinod K Dasari has been elected as the new vice-president. General Motors India president and MD Lowell Paddock has been appointed as the new treasurer.
Deepak Khanna is CEO of RCom India enterprise biz
Reliance Communications (RCom) appointed Deepak Khanna as chief executive officer of its India enterprise business. Khanna who has been with Bharti Airtel and Tulip Telecom earlier, said, ?We see exciting growth potential in the enterprise business in the years ahead, and expect to register 30% per annum compounded growth in this space in revenues and profitability over the next five years.?
Made-in-India Daimler Fuso enters Kenya, Sri Lanka
Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), a 100% subsidiary of Daimler, on Friday announced the unveiling of the new Fuso (heavy-duty truck) in Kenya. The new Fuso range is part of Daimler Trucks? efforts to consolidate its operations in Asia & Africa through its focused Daimler Trucks Asia programme. The new truck is making its debut in Kenya and Sri Lanka. The new range is being built by DICV at Oragadam plant near Chennai.
Indian cos among firms yet to pay facility fees to FDA
US health watchdog FDA has named at least five Indian companies, including Marck Biosciences and RPG Life Sciences, among 43 drugmakers that have failed to meet their annual facility fee payment obligations. The other Indian firms that have not satisfied their annual fee requirements under the Generic Drug User Fee Amendments include Virupaksha Organics, Vista Pharmaceuticals and Vital Laboratories.