Ratan Tata in ‘biggest brains’ tally

New York: After being chosen as one of the most influential people in the world by Time magazine, Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Group, has been named among the biggest brains in business by another US publication.

“Brilliance comes in many forms, whether it is founding a startup that kicks sand in Microsoft’s face or creating an affordable car for the developing world. A small number of innovators influence the rest of the influencers in business,” the magazine said.The list of ‘73 Biggest Brains in Business’ compiled by business publication Conde Nast Portfolio in its latest issue, features Tata for his Rs 1 lakh car — Nano — along with the likes of media mogul Rupert Murdoch and chief executive of investment bank Goldman Sachs Lloyd Blankfein.

“Brilliance comes in many forms, whether it is founding a startup that kicks sand in Microsoft’s face or creating an affordable car for the developing world. A small number of innovators influence the rest of the influencers in business,” the magazine said.

The magazine said that Tata believes the future of the auto industry rests in the hands of those who do not drive yet.

Tata Group, which recently snapped up British luxury brands Jaguar and Land Rover, has unveiled Nano, the world’s cheapest car. “The model won’t be sold in the US but has the potential to radically alter the market for manufacturers here. Tata-inspired followers are already revving up their engines: Nissan-Renault partnering with India’s Bajaj Auto to develop a car by 2010 that will sell for less than $3,000 (Rs 1.2 lakh). But except for Ford India, US companies can’t produce a model this cheaply. Which means they risk being run over,” the magazine noted.

Others who featured on the list are Nobel Prize winner and Grameen Bank founder Muhammad Yunus, media anchor Oprah Winfrey, World Bank managing director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and anatomy professor at the University of Wisconsin James Thomson.

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(Source: http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1392588)