BookMyShow's Ashish Hemrajani thinks John Key managed New Zealand like the 'CEO of a company'

In what may probably be a first for a head of state, the then New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key, was to visit the BookMyShow office in Mumbai during his official visit to India in October. “Although this could not happen because of unforeseen circumstances, it shows how receptive Key is to new ideas and a different way of thinking,” says Ashish Hemrajani, BookMyShow CEO. Hemrajani speaks from experience, having met the politician on three previous occasions. “The first time I met him was in Singapore during the Rugby World Cup, the next when he travelled to Sri Lanka with his delegation and more recently during his India visit.” With Key’s surprise resignation earlier this month, Hemrajani shares with ETPanache the lasting impression the former New Zealand PM left on him.

“He [Key] is straight and direct, and many times comes across as a CEO of a company, which is why I can relate to him. He is never unidimensional in his thinking and likes to have a 360-degree view of things,” he says. Hemrajani also admires Key’s sense of humour. “I remember when his airplane faced issues because of which he had to cancel the Mumbai leg of his visit, he could see the funny side of the situation,” he recalls.