Nooyi, Mittal, Irani & Suzuki get Padma Bhushan

NEW DELHI: PEPSI CEO Indira Nooyi, who has been the toast of the business circuit since her elevation to the top job at the multinational in September last year, has been conferred with the Padma Bhushan by the government of India. Bharati group CMD Sunil Mittal, leading industrialist J J Irani, Suzuki Motor Corporation chief O Suzuki and noted industrialist from Tamil Nadu Dr N Mahalingam were also among the 32 people conferred with the Padma Bhushan. Economist Raja Chelliah was awarded the prestigious Padma Vibhushan.

Literary faces to have made it to the awards include noted writer Kushwant Singh, who has been conferred with the Padma Vibhushan for literature and education, Vikram Seth and Amitav Ghosh, both of whom got the Padma Shri.

Awardees��� list also included civil society activist Teesta Seetalvad, who got the Padma Shri, and lyricist Javed Akhtar, who was conferred with the Padma Bhushan.

The Padma Shri awardees��� list included Nasscom chief Kiran Karnik, IIM (Ahmedabad) director Bakul Dholakia, HSBC India CEO Naina Kidwai, Trident���s Rajinder Gupta, Amalgamations group chairman A Sivasailam and American economist Jeffrey D Sacs.

For Ms Nooyi, who was recognised for her contribution in the field of trade and industry, the award is the biggest of the many accolades to have come her way since she took over as Pepsi CEO. The Chennai-born lady, who is considered to be the brain behind Pepsi���s restructuring during the late 1990s, was in the top management of the company as it overtook its biggest global rival, Coke, in December 2005.

She was responsible for Pespi���s decision to divest many of its non-core business, including restaurant chains such as Pizza Hut. She was also in the team that latched on to a trend that would change Pepsi���s fortunes ��� that the market for aerated drinks was saturated and people preferred health drinks and snacks to aerated drinks.

Ms Nooyi was also behind the company���s decision to acquire brands such as Tropicana and Quaker oats. Bottled or mineral water and sports drinks also became priorities for Pepsi with Ms Nooyi charting the course for the company.

The turnaround of the company in 2005, after which it was written off by analysts, showed Ms Nooyi had what it takes to occupy the top slot. It came as no surprise to many that she was announced as successor to Steve Reinemund, the former Pepsi CEO. Named by Fortune magazine as one of the world���s most powerful women in 2005, Ms Nooyi is an American citizen.