CEOs Confident On Growth: Survey
According to the eighth annual global CEO Survey by PricwaterhouseCoopers, with the reemergence of world economies from a period of slow growth and recession, confidence among CEOs is on the rise. Around 41 pct of the CEOs interviewed were very confident about the revenue growth prospects over the next 12 months.

Lost your job? Dole is on the way
The workforce in the organised sector is expected to get unemployment benefits soon. The labour ministry will seek the Cabinet’s clearance for the scheme, which will be implemented by the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) for its members. The annual corpus for the scheme was likely to be around Rs 160 crore, covering 7.2 million workers in 275,000 factories and establishments. The scheme is expected to be finalised on February 1 at an ESIC board meeting. The scheme will be funded by the ESIC's own resources. The unemployment benefit will be available to those who are ESI members for at least nine months.

No Ifs And Butts Here!
A Michigan company has forced its employees to either quit smoking or quit their jobs and also wants to tell fat workers to lose weight or else. A ban on tobacco use led four employees to quit their jobs at Okemos, Michigan-based Weyco Inc., which handles insurance claims. Also, the workers refused to take a mandatory urine test demanded of Weyco's 200 employees, whereas Mr Howard Weyers, sole owner of the company said in a statement that their demand is perfectly legal. "If you don't want to take the test, you can leave," added Mr Weyers. The jury is still out on the potential legal challenges.

Top Honchos Moving Out Of ABN Amro
The top level employees of ABN Amro Mutual Fund are moving out to join other big corporates. After the exit of the head of debt funds Mr Rajiv Shastri (to join Sahara AMC as CEO), the head of equities Mr Mihir Vora is also believed to be on his way out. It is learnt from the sources that Mr Vora is likely to join the equities team at Tata Mutual Fund.

Mr Nirvik Singh To Head SE-Asia Grey Global
Grey Global Group chairman- South Asia Mr Nirvik Singh has been elevated to the position of president, South East Asia Grey Global. In addition to his existing portfolio of India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, Mr Singh will oversee Grey’s operations in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Indo-China. Mr Singh will continue to be based in Mumbai.

Maveric Sys To Up Jobs To 400
Maveric Systems, the Chennai-based software testing company, is expected to increase its headcount to 400 people from 240 by the end of March 2006. According to Mr P Venkatesh, director, the company has acquired 4 acres on Old Mahabalipuram Road and plans to invest a couple of crores to set up a new software testing facility, including dedicated centres for a couple of its clients. The company has tied up with Loyola Institute of Business Administration to offer a two-year postgraduate diploma in software testing in financial services and it has designed the course curriculum besides providing infrastructure and offering stipends to the students.

Barista To Have New CEO Once Again
Mr Brotin Banerjee, former Tata employee has taken charge as the new CEO of coffee retail chain Barista Coffee Company Ltd. Mr Banerjee is the third CEO to head the coffee chain, whose ownership has changed several hands in the last two years. He took over from Mr Yogesh Samat who had come from Hindustan Lever.

Smart Ways To Hire Smart People
As the outsourcing is on a high spree these days, technology services companies are in expansion mode. Indian companies are seeing no respite in the hiring spree that began last year. According to Nasscom, in Q3, the top five Indian companies added about 18,000 employees. Whereas, Infosys has doubled its workforce from 16,000 to 35,000 and Wipro too increased its headcount to 39,000 from 17,000 in the last two years. But the HR departments are under huge pressure because they are suffering from a resource shortage. They need to work directly and hire the right skills quickly.

Matsushita To Reduce Headcount
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co is planning to cut the work force in its core digital electronics unit and mobile business in Japan, aiming to boost profit margins amid intense price competition. Also, the company has launched an early retirement scheme for its employees. “This is not just an early retirement scheme. We are also making efforts to move people to more profitable areas in the company,” according to Mr Satoshi Iwai, spokesman of Matsushita.

Mr Chakraborrti of JP Morgan Moves To NY
The head of global equity strategy of JP Morgan Bank, Mr Abhijit Chakraborrti is moving to New York from London as part of a shake-up of the European, global and US strategy teams. With his existing role as head of global equity strategy, he becomes the head of US equity strategy. Also, Mr Mislav Matejka, team member of Mr Chakraborrti in London is shifting to head the European equity strategy team and will report to Mr Peter Redhead, head of equity research for Europe.

Mr Madhukar Dev Is Tata Elxsi MD
The board of Tata Elxsi Ltd has appointed Mr Madhukar Dev as the managing director of the company for a period of three years from January 16, 2005. Mr Dev has had the designation of chief executive officer for the past three years.

New Indian Hotels Director
The Indian Hotels Company Ltd has announced the appointment of Mr Valli Moosa as a director on the company's board with effect from January 24, 2005.

Appointments
Mr Sanjeev Dhar has been appointed as the country manager, Agilent Technologies.
Mr M Fakruddin has been appointed Director, corporate planning and marketing, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
Mr A S Ramchander is joining Castrol India Limited as Executive Director.

Fannie Mae Accounting Chief To Quit
The principal accounting officer of Fannie Mae is leaving her job in a sign the mortgage finance provider is starting to overhaul its management team following an accounting scandal. Ms Leanne Spencer, the company’s controller, has “stepped down”, and would be replaced by Mr David Hisey, a former accountant from the company’s financial controls department. However, Ms Spencer will remain with the organisation as a “special adviser” to one of the company’s executive officers for one year retaining her salary and benefits. Fannie also announced that none of its executive officers or senior vice presidents would receive cash bonuses for 2004. The previous CEO, Mr Franklin Raines received $ 4.1 million and the ousted CFO, Mr Timothy Howard received $1.3 million in 2003.