Do looks of a CEO affect company fortunes? Here’s how top bosses let the numbers speak

In reaction to talk of Mittu Chandilya quitting Air Asia, industrialist Harsh Goenka referred to his "looks" in a tweet. Do the looks of a CEO affect company fortunes? Here's how some dapper top bosses let the numbers speak for them.

"When you advertise the looks of the CEO rather than the product, you are bound to fail. #airasia" — Harsh Goenka's tweet

KAVIN MITTAL (27) CEO, HIKE

Some stats for Hike – it's been three years since it was founded, it has 100 million users today and is the sixth largest messaging global app. Apart from the $86 million the company raised previously from Tiger Global, it received a fresh round of (undisclosed) funds last month.

PRANAY CHULET (42) CEO, QUIKR

The company has raised $300 million in the last two years and announced last month that it planned to invest Rs 250 crore in the home services market to beat their rivals. Quikr says it has 250,000 service providers on the platform, used by 50,000 customers every day.

ADAR POONAWALLA (35) CEO, SERUM INSTITUTE OF INDIA

While Poonawalla Sr climbed up the Billionaire Index in 2015, Adar plans to take the Rs 4,000 crore Serum Institute of India to a Rs 10,000 crore company in six years. That's apart from the Rs 2,000 crore he intends to put into developing a special economic zone in Pune.

ROSHNI NADAR MALHOTRA (34) CEO, HCL CORPORATION

As an only child, Roshni Nadar Malhotra is probably destined to head her father's empire. Apart from being the CEO of HCL Corp, she's also headed to play a key role in its new company HCL Talent. Besides, the $17 billion HCL Technologies has just announced that it plans US listing this year.

SIDDHARTH LAL (42) CEO, EICHER MOTORS

Earlier this week, Eicher had raced past Harley-Davidson with a $57 million higher market cap (that changed yesterday, with Harley's mcap at $1 billion more than Eicher). Its market cap is $7.48 billion. Lal also announced this month that the company plans to enter newer markets like Brazil, the Middle East and ASEAN countries.