Ashank Desai

Son of the soil



Unlike many others, armed with an M Tech from IIT-Mumbai and a management
degree from IIM-Ahmedabad, Ashank Desai did not migrate overseas. Instead he,

along with few of his friends, started Mastek from a small room in Nariman Point

in 1982. With revenues touching Rs 664 crore, the company is well on its way to

achieve the objective of becoming a successful global venture. The feathers in

the cap have definitely been the solution for the London Traffic system as well

as the insurance product, Elixir. Meanwhile, Desai has found excitement on

things that are closer to his heart, like his role as Nasscom chairman in

1995-96 and, more recently, lobbying with the Moily Committe on different issues

from STPI tax benefits to reservations in premier institutions.