Dheeraj Hinduja set to steer Ashok Leyland

The sprawling Hinduja empire, spread over the United Kingdom, Switzerland, India and Iran, will soon complete a crucial leadership transition with a change of guard imminent at Ashok Leyland and Hinduja Foundries. Dheeraj Hinduja, son of Gopichand, the second of the four brothers who have built the Hinduja Group, is all set to become chairman of Ashok Leyland and Hinduja Foundries, as the third generation of the family takes over the reins of the conglomerate run by their fathers and uncles. Ashok Leyland, India’s second-largest maker of commercial vehicles, is the group’s flagship in India. London-based Dheeraj, 38, will replace current chairman RJ Shahaney at Ashok Leyland and Hinduja Foundries within a month or so, said a person close to the matter. The group spokesperson, however, declined to comment, saying the board of the two companies would make a decision on the matter. (June 16, 2010)