Ram Charan boards Gopinath’s cargo start-up as an advisor

Bangalore: Iconic business strategist Ram Charan is boarding Capt GR Gopinath’s start-up logistics company Deccan Express as an advisor. The new venture is expected to kick off in May next year with a fleet of six cargo aircraft connecting 14 locations and supported by a trucking service that will reach out to 68 places across the country.
“Ram Charan will be on the company’s advisory panel, guiding the CEO and operational team every quarter. We are gearing up to launch services in May-June, with a fleet of three Airbus 310s and three ATRs having 14 air touchpoints. We will be the largest and double the size of existing industry players on day one,” Capt Gopinath, chairman & managing director, Deccan Express Logistics, said. Three more ATRs will be added to the fleet subsequently.
Ram Charan has advised several global giants such as GE, Bank of America, 3M and Home Depot over the past 35 years and authored several best-sellers including Execution, Boards That Deliver and What the CEO Wants You to Know. Former FedEX honcho and business writer Madan Birla — who authored FedEx Delivers — will join Ram Charan on the advisory panel.
Deccan Express Logistics will require an estimated $150 million over the next 18-24 months. While Capt Gopinath has committed $25 million, $50 million will come from equity and the remaining will be raised as debt. Capt Gopinath said the fund-raising move has received 6-7 expressions of interest from financial and strategic investors and a deal closure could happen shortly.
Capt Gopinath and entrepreneurial partner KJ Samuel together hold over 90% stake in the venture. The new company has a team of 180 people under CEO Jude Fonseka, drawn from FedEx.
24/12/08 Boby Kurien/Economic Times

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Categories: cargo, Deccan Aviation Dec 2008, Deccan Express Dec 2008, New Dec 2008