Adi Godrej , Chairman of the Godrej Group, is synonymous with trustworthiness. Trustworthy as a statesman, leader, and human.

As a statesman, Mr. Godrej has been a catalyst in the metamorphosis of Brand India. Over the past 25 years, he has always advocated winning customer trust, in urban and rural India, as well as emerging markets. He walks his talk. In the process, Godrej is also recognized to be one of the most trustworthy brands in India.

Mr. Godrej has played a key role in the development of a variety of industries by captaining several significant organizations of trade and commerce. Noteworthy amongst these are the Indian Soap & Toiletries Makers' Association, the Central Organization for Oil Industry and Trade, the Solvent Extractors' Association of India, and the Compound Livestock Feeds Manufacturers' Association. He is the President Designate of the Confederation of Indian Industry. His focus: earning customer trust, worker trust, and society trust.

Over the years, Mr. Godrej has left deep footprints in the education sector. He has served as the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies; and as member of the Dean's Advisory Council of the MIT Sloan School of Management and the Wharton Asian Executive Board. He is the Chairman of the Board of the Indian School of Business. At each institution, he underlined quality practices for the delivery of education and management of students. He believes “perfection is possible”.

On behalf of the Godrej Group, Mr. Godrej has contributed to society through several projects that uplift human dignity: Udayachal Schools, Teach for India, AIDS Awareness, Smile Train. He has also directly participated in environmental projects such as the conservation and protection of mangrove forests in Vikhroli. These mangroves serve as the lung of Mumbai city.

Mr. Godrej. A role model facilitator for improving the quality of life of Indian citizens.

We salute Mr. Adi Godrej, Qimpro Platinum Standard 2011 for Business.

Om Prakash Bhatt, Chairman, State Bank of India is a rare combination of visionary leadership, performance excellence, people focus, and principle-centered values. He leads a 204 year old national institution with managerial practices appropriate for the 21st century.

Mr Bhatt has served SBI for almost four decades, in India, England, and the USA. His vast experience enables him to recognize best practices in the banking sector. Several of these practices have been innovated for customer-driven quality, at SBI. They also serve as a benchmark for other Indian banks, governmental and private.

Mr Bhatt, as Chairman, is credited with the transformation of SBI from a traditional, transaction based, bureaucratic bank to a modern, customer focused, technology driven organization. With much success. The exercise is the subject for case studies at management institutions.

According to Mr Bhatt, people make the difference. In order to address his aggressive growth plans, Mr Bhatt designed a unique change management program, Parivartan, that was successfully rolled out to over 140,000 employees across all cadres in 100 days. The focus of Parivartan was on cultural and attitudinal change, as well as customer focus and social responsibility.

As a strategist, Mr Bhatt has expanded SBI’s presence in the international, rural and agricultural markets. Always with a sharp understanding of customer needs. Consequently, the world ranking of SBI has grown from 107 in 2006 to 68 in 2010, as assessed by The Banker Magazine of Financial Times, London.

Mr Bhatt walks his talk. He is therefore recognized as an effective leader and institution builder. A leadership benchmark.

Apart from SBI, Mr Bhatt also believes in the collective growth of the Indian banking sector. He is the current Chairman of Indian Bank’s Association, where he has left deep foot prints. He is also on the boards of Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, Indian Institute of Banking & Finance, US-India CEO Forum, Indo-French Forum, and more.

A M Naik, Chairman & Managing Director, Larsen & Toubro Limited is a rare combination of visionary leadership, performance excellence, and principle-centered values. He has always placed India before self and company. In the process he has facilitated creation of an organization where nationalism and patriotism are embedded in the spirit of all employees.

Mr Naik firmly believes that people make quality. His emphasis on HR and IT as the twin engines of growth has propelled L&T to world-class stature in multiple sectors: engineering, infrastructure, nuclear, and defense. A benchmark.

L&T, the company Mr Naik leads, is a private-sector-partner to India in key national endeavors. It had manufactured rocket motor casings for India's first foray into space; and currently provides indigenous engineering expertise for critical defense projects. L&T has been uniquely described by public authorities as “India's only national sector company”.

Mr Mahindra has a rainbow of interests and commitments. He is the public representative in the National Stock Exchange of India; on the Board of Governance of the Mahindra United World College of India; the Founder Chairman of the Mumbai Festival; the Co-Chairman of the International Council of the Asia Society, New York; on the Asia-Pacific Advisory Board of Harvard Business School; and many more.

Mr Naik is a senior and active member of the Confederation of Indian Industry. In this capacity he has contributed several innovative ideas to promote the capital goods industry in India and overseas. His mission: Made in India, a hallmark of excellence.

A concern for social and welfare issues complement Mr Naik's keen business interests. He has always maintained that there is another India that needs attention, particularly with regard to education and healthcare. His actions have done the talking. His healthcare achievements cover a wide spectrum: leprosy diagnosis and treatment, family planning, HIV / AIDS, amongst others.

In regard to education, Mr Naik's focus has been on school dropouts and unemployed youth. L&T's numerous skill training centers provide a life transforming experience to these individuals, building their self-confidence and zest to perform in society. Mr Naik also believes that the environment is closely intertwined with human welfare. To spread the message of conservation, L&T organizes awareness camps for youth and children, country-wide.

Anand Mahindra, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, is a prime-mover of excellence in the manufacturing and service sectors, in rural and urban India. He is the face of New India in America, Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe; for the global farm equipment and utility vehicle sectors.

For the past decade, Mr Mahindra has advocated that quality is no longer a differentiator, but a pre-requisite to enter markets – locally and globally. He has also advocated that inspecting quality in our products, services and processes is a defensive route to excellence. The correct approach, he believes, is to build quality into the design of our products, services, and processes. Achieving this excellence requires focus and determination. The Anand Mahindra way.

Mr Mahindra has been an evangelist for innovation. Customer-driven innovation. As President of the Confederation of Indian Industries and President of the Automotive Research Association of India, he appealed to Indian industry to think creatively and develop innovative solutions, to enhance the “Made in India” label. With success. Mr Mahindra – the eloquent and persuasive statesman.

Mr Mahindra has a rainbow of interests and commitments. He is the public representative in the National Stock Exchange of India; on the Board of Governance of the Mahindra United World College of India; the Founder Chairman of the Mumbai Festival; the Co-Chairman of the International Council of the Asia Society, New York; on the Asia-Pacific Advisory Board of Harvard Business School; and many more.

Dr E Sreedharan, Managing Director, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, is a distinguished bureaucrat, engineer, and citizen of India. A role model who has redefined discipline, punctuality and honesty in Indian work culture. An extraordinary man who has achieved extraordinary results through ordinary people.

Dr Sreedharan, the architect of the Konkan Railway and the Delhi Metro Rail, underlines that all his achievements are the result of team work. He believes that people cooperate when you work for a good cause. Dr Sreedharan, the catalyst, is focused and passionate about his work. He has an obsession for deadlines. Enabling effective project results.

Success and virtue run parallel in Dr Sreedharan's life. Like rail tracks. Into a distant horizon. Powered by his quiet dignity and proficient management skills. A global benchmark.

Dr Sreedharan was recognized as One of Asia's Heroes by TIME, Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour) by the Government of France, and Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India. He was also given the sobriquet of Metro Man by the media.

Dr Sreedharan has been a prime mover for growing the brand 'Made in India'. A brand now considered to be a trustworthy performer, for complex civil engineering projects.

Dr Sreedharan. A true statesman for 'quality as a way of life'. Based on principle–centred values.

We salute Dr E Sreedharan, Qimpro Platinum Standard 2007. An inspiration for 21st century India.

Ratan N. Tata, Chairman, Tata Sons is a distinguished industrialist, philanthropist, and citizen of India. A role model who has redefined corporate governance, social responsibility, and global ambition for Indian entrepreneurs.

Mr Tata has chaired the Tata Group since 1991. Apart from leading the Group to financial success, he has energized the auto, steel and software arms of the Group. His mandating the adoption of the Tata Business Excellence Model across the Group, and consistent monitoring of the same over the past decade, has transformed the Tata Group into a strategic and innovative giant. A hallmark practice.

Further, in keeping with the Tata tradition, Mr Tata has ensured that every company within the Group befriends society. Through active collaboration. Involving not only financial commitment, but also executive time commitment. A practice that nurtures excellence.

Beyond the Tata Group, Mr Tata has had a qualitative impact on several Indian and international governmental councils, as well as trade and industry boards. Mr Tata is a member of the Prime Minister's Council on Trade and Industry. He has also made a significant impact in the areas of education and healthcare, globally. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Cornell University, and the University of Southern California, as well as a member of the Program Board of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s India AIDS Initiative. A global citizen.

Mr Tata is a true statesman for quality as a way of life. He has been a prime catalyst for growing the brand "Made in India". A brand that is now considered to be a trustworthy performer in select industries.

We salute Mr Ratan N. Tata, Qimpro Platinum Standard 2006. An inspiration for 21st century India.

Keshub Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra and Mahindra Limited is a distinguished industrialist, philanthropist, and citizen. An iconic Indian, who has redefined corporate governance. Who has accomplished extraordinary heights owing to consistent practice of values based on sound ethical principles.

Mr Mahindra has chaired the Mahindra Group for over four decades. Apart from leading the Group to financial success, he has ensured that every company within the Group befriends society. Through active collaboration. Involving not only financial commitment, but also executive time commitment. A best practice.

Beyond the Mahindra Group, Mr Mahindra has had a qualitative impact on several corporates, as well as educational institutions. In particular, he was Chairman of Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, for ten formative years of this business school. As Chairman, he underlined the importance of building character, competence, and trustworthiness in individuals at the institute. This has translated into world-class faculty and students, as perceived in India and overseas.

At a macro level Mr Mahindra has tirelessly served on several committees that address social causes to improve the quality of life, in India. These include: Population First, National Society for Clean Cities, and Bombay City Policy Research Foundation.

Mr Mahindra is a true statesman for national quality. He has been a catalyst for the success of select Indian industries involved in manufacturing and services.

We salute Mr Keshub Mahindra, Qimpro Platinum Standard 2005. A role model for business excellence and social responsibility.