India Inc's GenNext club

Family businesses constitute most businesses in India, as anywhere else in the world. The flurry of activity, involving succession plans in India Inc, should be seen in this context. Family driven businesses are increasingly witnessing an influx of generation next - both at entry levels and at the board level. Here's a look at the some of the recent entrants in the GenNext club.

Anand Piramal, son of Piramal Group chairman Ajay Piramal has joined Piramal Realty, the real estate arm of the Pharma major in September. Anand has an MBA from Harvard Business School and holds an economics degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Before assuming this responsibility, he was heading Piramal Group's pilot project e-Swasthya.

Sudarshan Venu, son of Venu Srinivasan, chairman of TVS Motor Company Limited has been appointed as additional director of Sundaram-Clayton Limited (SCL), a part of $4-billion TVS Group. SCL is a pioneer in manufacture of air brake systems. Sudarshan graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in US. While pursuing his Masters, he underwent training in die casting division of Sundaram-Clayton Limited and in TVS Motor Company Limited.

Lakshmi Venu, daughter of the country's second-largest two-wheeler manufacturer TVS Motor Company chairman Venu Srinivasan, has been groomed to take greater responsibilities in Sundaram Clayton, part of $4 billion TVS Motor group. She has a degree in Economics from Yale University and a PhD in manufacturing management from Warwick University in the UK. Lakshmi Venu is the daughter-in-law of Infosys co-founder and chief mentor N R Narayana Murthy.

Shravin Mittal, son of Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal joined the company as a manager for its African operations. Earlier, he was working with JPMorgan in London where he was a TMT analyst. Shravin is a graduate in accounting and finance from University of Bath in UK, and has worked for more than three years in equity research and portfolio management with JPMorgan Chase & Co, Ernst & Young, Merill Lynch & Company, Deutsche Bank AG and IMG.

Rishad Premji, son of Wipro founder Azim Premji was appointed as chief strategy officer at India's third largest IT firm in September last year. Rishad was serving as a general manager earlier. Rishad has an MBA from Harvard Business School and has done stints with GE Capital and consulting firm Bain & Co.

Sidhartha Mallya, son of United Breweries Ltd (UBL) chairman Vijay Mallya, completed his studies in London. In 2005, he was appointed as director of United Breweries. He also serves on the board of the oldest football club in India, Mohun Bagan. Currently, Siddharth is also serving as a director of Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited, which owns the IPL franchisee Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Roshni Nadar, the only child of HCL Corporation founder Shiv Nadar was appointed as executive director and CEO of the IT major in 2009. She joined the fifth-largest Indian IT company after returning from the US. Roshni is an MBA in social enterprise management and strategy from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management.