A tribute to the legend

Surmandal is a group formed by music lovers of Hyderabad way back in 1969 is to pay Shraddanjali by way of a musical performance by Swapnil Mistry and Group from Mumbai to corporate legend and former chairman of ITC, Yogi Deveshwar informed Mohan Hemmadi, one of the founder members of Surmandal.

Surmandal is in its 50th year now. Yogi Deveshwar has deep rooted connections to Hyderabad as ITC has its major presence in Hyderabad and Telangana. Yogi Deveshwar used to frequent this city often informed Mohan Hemmadi. He was a fun lover. He contributed to Indian music and art. This program is a rich tribute to this great soul added Mohan Hemmadi.

YCD as he is known to his friends, Yogi Deveshwar patronised to music, art in this country said Mohan Hemmadi. Yogi Deveshwar is known across the Industry for his record performance. ITC's revenues over his 21-year tenure as chief executive officer (CEO) went up from 5,200 crore to 51,500 crores. He is a true legend, informed Hemmadi.

He was the longest-serving CEO of any Indian company at the time of his death in May this year. He was listed as the best performing CEO in India by Harward Busienss Reviews and seventh in the world. Government of India decorated him with the India's third-highest Civilian Award—Padma Bhushan in the year 2011. Yogi Deveshwar earned nearly triple the second-highest salary in his company.

Deveshwar, an alumnus of IIT Delhi and Harvard Business School, joined ITC in 1968. Between 1991 and 1994, he was invited by the government to serve as the chairman and managing director of Air India, a period that is remembered for a turnaround in the national carrier.

He passed away recently in the Month of May at the age of 72 years. The performance will be held in the city at 6.30pm on Saturday, 1st June 2019 at Pingali Venkatrama Reddy Hall, Lower Tank Bund, Hyderabad