Maruti’s first MD Dr V Krishnamurthy passes away

TusharK · 29th June 2022, 17:36

Dr V Krishnamurthy, former Chairman and Managing Director of Maruti Udyog, has passed away. He was 97.

Name: Screenshot 20220629 173456.jpg
Views: 395
Size: 69.6 KB

Name: Screenshot 20220629 173456.jpg
Views: 395
Size: 69.6 KB

Dr Krishnamurthy was appointed Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Maruti Udyog in 1981, following the company’s formation. He was known as a ‘People’s Man’.

Dr Krishnamurthy joined the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) in 1985. However, he remained the non-executive of Maruti Udyog till 1990. Later, he went on to hold key positions in the government as well.

Link to Team-BHP News

DicKy · 29th June 2022, 20:01

Remember reading about him in R.C.Bhargava's 'The Maruti story'. Excerpts from the book:

He formed the core team when Maruti didn't even think of building a Japanese car. He made sure that the company won't get trampled under the red tape and political pressures and got assurance from Indira Gandhi herself with the help of Rajiv Gandhi. He had second thoughts on the Renault R-18 and resisted covert political pressure to accept Volkswagen's offer. Double crossed by Daihatsu, the team went on a second trip to Japan to meet Mitsubishi, Nissan and Suzuki. Mr. V. Krishnamurthy felt that Suzuki would be a much more easy partner to manage than Mitsubishi, whose sheer size awed them in the first meeting itself. While the Suzuki meeting had four members including Mr. Osama Suzuki himself in a modest non-air conditioned office, Mitsubishi had 40 senior members sitting opposite the Maruti team in a huge office. Upon returning, Mr.V. Krishnamurthy remarked to Ms. Indira Gandhi that Mitsubishi's budget was more than the Government of India's and it would have been difficult to have a fruitful venture.

He was also adamant on Maruti adopting the latest assembly techniques instead of the labour intensive assembly method Suzuki had hoped to do, using cheap Indian labour. He worked hard for Maruti to have a proper work culture which started in the office itself. Everyone had to wear uniforms, none had cubicles and everyone had food at a common canteen.

Mr.V.Krishnamurthy was also instrumental in the SB308 launching just a few years after the SS80 was launched, since Maruti felt the SB308 would be more suitable for India. Ofcourse Suzuki protested, but had to relent. (Ironically, when Suzuki wanted to phase out the 800 and make the Zen it's successor, R.C.Bhargava was adamant on keeping the 800 on sale)

May his soul attain moksha.

kvsneela · 29th June 2022, 21:25

Mr K was Chairman of 4 PSUs ( BHEL, MUL, SAIL and GAIL). In fact he was leading SAIL, GAIL and MUL between 1985 to 1990 same time. One of my friends , working with me in SAIL, used to tell stories of him . He was working in MUL first and after marriage ( his wife was from Ranchi) got inducted in SAIL Ranchi due to the fact that Mr K was Chairman for both the PSUs a that time. ( I joined SAIL after Mr K left SAIL). Very good administrator.

KPR · 30th June 2022, 09:20

For those who want to know about him can read the book 'At the Helm'. Few excerpts from the book.

He had the vision back then in 1983 to install Maruti project with a capacity of 1,40,000 cars per year when the Indian domestic sales was mere 40000. Mr. Ratan Tata publicly acknowledged later that even if Tata motors had been assigned this Maruti Project at that time, he would have planned for an output of 40000 cars.

He always felt that Maruti Suzuki cars should have M shaped wings over the S logo now. He wondered if future generations of the country will ever know that this was once a very strong Indian brand.

29th June 2022, 17:36	#1
TusharK Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Pune Posts: 7,417 Thanked: 65,665 Times	Maruti’s first MD Dr V Krishnamurthy passes away Dr V Krishnamurthy, former Chairman and Managing Director of Maruti Udyog, has passed away. He was 97. Dr Krishnamurthy was appointed Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Maruti Udyog in 1981, following the company’s formation. He was known as a ‘People’s Man’. Dr Krishnamurthy joined the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) in 1985. However, he remained the non-executive of Maruti Udyog till 1990. Later, he went on to hold key positions in the government as well. Link to Team-BHP News Last edited by TusharK : 29th June 2022 at 17:37.
	(7) Thanks

29th June 2022, 20:01	#2
DicKy Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: TVPM Posts: 4,393 Thanked: 15,285 Times	Re: Maruti’s first MD Dr V Krishnamurthy passes away Remember reading about him in R.C.Bhargava's 'The Maruti story'. Excerpts from the book: He formed the core team when Maruti didn't even think of building a Japanese car. He made sure that the company won't get trampled under the red tape and political pressures and got assurance from Indira Gandhi herself with the help of Rajiv Gandhi. He had second thoughts on the Renault R-18 and resisted covert political pressure to accept Volkswagen's offer. Double crossed by Daihatsu, the team went on a second trip to Japan to meet Mitsubishi, Nissan and Suzuki. Mr. V. Krishnamurthy felt that Suzuki would be a much more easy partner to manage than Mitsubishi, whose sheer size awed them in the first meeting itself. While the Suzuki meeting had four members including Mr. Osama Suzuki himself in a modest non-air conditioned office, Mitsubishi had 40 senior members sitting opposite the Maruti team in a huge office. Upon returning, Mr.V. Krishnamurthy remarked to Ms. Indira Gandhi that Mitsubishi's budget was more than the Government of India's and it would have been difficult to have a fruitful venture. He was also adamant on Maruti adopting the latest assembly techniques instead of the labour intensive assembly method Suzuki had hoped to do, using cheap Indian labour. He worked hard for Maruti to have a proper work culture which started in the office itself. Everyone had to wear uniforms, none had cubicles and everyone had food at a common canteen. Mr.V.Krishnamurthy was also instrumental in the SB308 launching just a few years after the SS80 was launched, since Maruti felt the SB308 would be more suitable for India. Ofcourse Suzuki protested, but had to relent. (Ironically, when Suzuki wanted to phase out the 800 and make the Zen it's successor, R.C.Bhargava was adamant on keeping the 800 on sale) May his soul attain moksha.
	(23) Thanks

29th June 2022, 21:25	#3
kvsneela BHPian Join Date: Jun 2022 Location: Pondicherry Posts: 118 Thanked: 576 Times	Re: Maruti’s first MD Dr V Krishnamurthy passes away Mr K was Chairman of 4 PSUs ( BHEL, MUL, SAIL and GAIL). In fact he was leading SAIL, GAIL and MUL between 1985 to 1990 same time. One of my friends , working with me in SAIL, used to tell stories of him . He was working in MUL first and after marriage ( his wife was from Ranchi) got inducted in SAIL Ranchi due to the fact that Mr K was Chairman for both the PSUs a that time. ( I joined SAIL after Mr K left SAIL). Very good administrator.
	(5) Thanks

30th June 2022, 09:20	#4
KPR BANNED Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Dholakpur Posts: 828 Thanked: 2,535 Times	Re: Maruti’s first MD Dr V Krishnamurthy passes away For those who want to know about him can read the book 'At the Helm'. Few excerpts from the book. He had the vision back then in 1983 to install Maruti project with a capacity of 1,40,000 cars per year when the Indian domestic sales was mere 40000. Mr. Ratan Tata publicly acknowledged later that even if Tata motors had been assigned this Maruti Project at that time, he would have planned for an output of 40000 cars. He always felt that Maruti Suzuki cars should have M shaped wings over the S logo now. He wondered if future generations of the country will ever know that this was once a very strong Indian brand.
	(5) Thanks