Date:17/07/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/07/17/stories/2004071702200200.htm

Back Whirlpool shifts Raj Jain to China

Our Bureau

New Delhi , July 16

IN keeping with the company's trend of a churning every three years, Whirlpool of India Ltd, the Indian arm of home appliances major Whirlpool Corporation, US, is set to see a change of guard at the helm.

Mr Raj Jain, Managing Director, Whirlpool of India, is moving to China as the Regional Head Marketing and Product Delivery, Whirlpool Asia.

Mr Garrick D'Silva, Chairman of the company, will be officiating as managing director till a replacement is found. Talking to Business Line Mr Jain said, "As the Regional Head Marketing and Product Delivery, I would be reporting to Regional Head of Asia, Mr Mark Hu." The China operations of the company are said to be much larger than India.

And who will the new chief for Whirlpool of India be? "It will take a few months before that is decided," said company officials.

According Mr Anang D. Jena, Business Head of market research company Synovate, "The re-shuffle could be attributed to two reasons: re-jigging of the current market strategy or the company's way of rewarding the high performer."

Prior to moving to Whirlpool, Mr Jain was working with Hindustan Lever Ltd. In fact, Mr Jain took over as MD after Mr D'Silva moved up the ladder in the company in 2001.

Mr D'Silva, besides being the Chairman of Whirlpool of India, is also looking after the company's Asia operations in his capacity as Regional Vice-President Asia, Whirlpool Corporation.