Up close and personal: Ritesh Kumar, CEO, HDFC Ergo

Here are some life lessons from Ritesh Kumar, CEO, HDFC ERGO,

Childhood
Stayed in Budapest for 2 years. My entire school had 72 students. I went there from South Point School in Kolkata, which has a Guinness Book of Record mention for the highest number of students.


Fondest Memory
Selected as the only student in Budapest to go on an exchange programme to the US. Attending classes in three different schools in New Hampshire.

Best Ever Advice
Never be wedded to a place. If you have to grow in life, you have to move around. This is not moving from one job to another, but within an organisation.

Worst Advice
One year into the job, I got a call from a head hunter who asked me to change, as one year is a long enough time to have spent in an organisation.

Dream Job
Civil services. Influenced by my Budapest stay where dad was with the embassy.

Day One at Workplace
It was May 4, 1992, at ICICI’s Jeevan Bharti building. There was a lunch invite from Mr Vaghul. Whenever he travelled to other cities, he would invite freshers. He was trying to keep us at ease.

Moment of Giving Up
In April 1997, I was up for a promotion which didn’t happen. That’s the only time I looked around for a job. As a youngster, you don’t know that patience is a virtue.

Favourite Book
Execution by Larry Bossidy. The book tells you that you can have the best strategies, but the devil lies in execution.

Entertainment
I try to watch two movies on most weekends. My favourite movie is Sholay.

Holiday Spot
Goa. I go there 5-6 times a year.

Sentiment
While doing a deal with L&T General Insurance, I felt sitting on a particular chair would help. My team ensured that I sat on that chair.

Beliefs
There are times when we all get restless. I visit a temple when I get restless.