Xerxes Desai, Titan founder and the OG Steve Jobs of India

In the 1970s and early 1980s, Xerxes Desai transformed Tata Press, where he modernized the press by introducing new technologies like the Harris web press. He pioneered the Yellow Pages concept in telephone directory printing, the precursor to modern day Just Dial, and converted a government-like press into a professional, technological leader.

Desai's leadership was characterized by a unique vision and charisma as per his colleagues. He was known for his meticulous approach and commitment to quality, traits that would later help him establish Titan watches.

After successfully turning around Tata Press, Desai was bored and sought new business challenges, which ultimately led him to conceptualize Titan, transforming the Indian watch industry.

In 1986, Desai founded Titan, which introduced India to quartz watches. His biggest achievement was challenging Titan's engineers to create the world's thinnest watch, the Titan Edge. After Titan's success, he founded Tanishq, a jewelry brand, which is the market leader in India and today contributes to about 80% of the company's revenue. Today, Titan is one the top performing stocks in India, delivering 1000x return in the last 20 years.

To know more, highly recommend this podcast on Titan by Saurabh Mukherjea, founder of Marcellus Investment Managers