Titan founder Xerxes Desai passes away

Xerxes Desai, who started Titan and transformed it into India's largest watchmaker, died here on Monday. Desai, 80, was ailing from acute gastro enteritis, a Tata Group spokesperson said.

JRD Tata, who liked the idea of Desai's suggestion that the Tatas should venture into watch making, picked the Tata Group veteran to set the company, which now is India's largest watch maker. Desai had experience in other Tata Group firms such as Tata Chemicals, Tata Industries, Indian Hotels and Tata Press, yet, he took over six years to negotiate with the Tamil Nadu government to set up its factory in Hosur, on Bengaluru outskirts.