Introductory Profile

Mr Das is based in New Delhi. He is an author, columnist and commentator and management consultant who was formerly a senior executive with Procter ∓ Gamble. He was the Chief Executive Officer of Procter & Gamble India and Vice President for Asia and completed his corporate career in the USA as head of strategic planning.

He regularly speaks at international business conferences held in India and overseas, as well as universities and other forums, about India's economy, its management challenges and on his optimistic view of India's future. He also advises multinational corporations on embracing globalisation and developing strategies for India.

Mr Das writes a Sunday column for The Times of India and occasionally writes articles or is interviewed for The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Foreign Affairs, Time and Newsweek.

He is best known for his internationally-acclaimed book India Unbound; The Social and Economic Revolution From Independence to the Global Information Age,(Penguin) which follows the changes of the past fifty years in India; an essential insider's road map to India. Subsequently he has authored a book of essays entitled The Elephant Paradigm: India Wrestles with Change (Penguin) looking at an ancient civilization's reawakening to the spirit - and potential - of its youth. His latest book is The Difficulty of Being Good; The Subtle Art of Dharma (Penguin) to answer that quintessential question, why be good?, which can be applied to many of the dilemmas that bedevil our world today, from political strategies to business decisions and beyond. Gurcharan Das also authors novels and plays, notably A Fine Family

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Gurcharan Das graduated with an honors degree from Harvard University in Philosophy and Politics and later attended Harvard Business School. He became Chairman and Managing Director of Richardson Hindustan Limited (1981-5) and then Vice President, Procter & Gamble Far East between CEO of Procter & Gamble India and Vice President of Procter & Gamble Far East (1985 and 1992). Latterly, he was Managing Director, Strategic Planning for Procter & Gamble Worldwide (1992-5). After a successful 30-year career in business he retired to become a full time writer.