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February 14, 2012Issue 21

TCS Inaugurates Customer Collaboration Center in California

On January 31, TCS announced the official opening of its Silicon Valley Customer Collaboration Center in Santa Clara, California. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, the collaboration center is designed to provide an open, innovative and collaborative workspace that adopts the entrepreneurial spirit and best practices employed by the world's leading startup companies in the valley. The center will serve as the worldwide headquarters of TCS' Mobility Solutions Unit and TCS's Next Gen Solutions Unit and is the latest addition to TCS's growing operations across North America where it has been operating since 1979 when it established its first office in New York City.

 

"TCS's decision to choose Silicon Valley as the global headquarters for its Mobility Solutions Unit and Next Gen Solutions Unit is a significant contribution to California's innovative economy," said deputy director at the California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, Brook Taylor. "California is the global leader in high-tech employment and our office looks forward to working closely with TCS as they create valuable job opportunities for our citizens."

 

Local officials including US Congressman Mike Honda and over 65 customers from the USA, Canada and Europe attended the launch. TCS now has more than twenty offices across the region including four development centers and centers of excellence creating winning solutions that provide its North-American customers with a competitive edge in the marketplace. Read more

Other News
The Boston Globe profiles Karambir Kang, new General Manager of the Taj Boston and formerly GM of the Taj Mahal Palace during the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack. Read more.

Winding Road Magazine names Jaguar XJ "Best Luxury Sedan" and Land Rover LR4 "Best Big Utility." Read more.

Tata Communications joins telecom industry leaders to form Global Meeting Alliance. Read more.

Taj Campton Place in San Francisco recognized as World's Best Hotels of 2012 by Travel + Leisure and one of San Francisco's Top Restaurants. Read more.

Christian Hommerich, hotel manager, The Pierre New York, talks about how his passion for the job is still as vibrant as it was when he entered the industry more than 20 years ago. Read more.


In January, Vivanta by Taj - Hotels & Resorts launched two new properties, Vivanta by Taj - Surya, Coimbatore and Vivanta by Taj - Begumpet, Hyderabad

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tata Global Beverages and Starbucks form JV to Open Starbucks Caf�s Across India 

L-R: R.K. Krishankumar, Vice Chairman, Tata Global Beverages; John Culver, President, Starbucks China and Asia Pacific

On January 30, Tata Global Beverages and Starbucks Coffee Company announced a joint venture between the iconic international coffee brand and the second-largest branded tea company in the world. The 50/

50 joint venture, named Tata Starbucks, will own and operate Starbucks caf�s which will be branded as Starbucks Coffee "A Tata Alliance". The retail stores will be developed in cities across the country, beginning with stores in Delhi and Mumbai in 2012.

 

In a separate sourcing and roasting agreement between Starbucks Coffee Company and Tata Coffee, Tata Coffee will roast coffee to supply Tata Starbucks, and to export to Starbucks Coffee Company. 

 

"We're very pleased to have found the best partner for Starbucks in Tata - a group that shares so many of the same values for conducting business in a way that earns the trust and respect of our customers and partners (employees)," said John Culver, president, Starbucks China and Asia Pacific. Read more.

Tata Global Beverages and PepsiCo India JV NourishCo, Launches India's First Nutrient Water 

L-R: Mr. Pradeep Poddar, MD & CEO MEMW (Mount Everest Mineral Water); Mr. R K Krishna Kumar, Vice Chairman, Tata Global Beverages; Mr. Manu Anand, Chairman & CEO, PepsiCo India Region; Mr. Ashok Namboodiri, Chief Sales & Marketing, NourishCo Beverages Ltd
In keeping with its vision of healthy beverages for a healthier India, NourishCo - the Tata Global Beverages-PepsiCo India JV has launched Tata Water Plus, India's first nutrient water. Tata Water Plus is the only water of its kind in India. Developed in collaboration with international scientists and Indian nutrition experts by Tata Global Beverages, Tata Water Plus represents the larger mission of mitigating nutritional gaps in the average Indian.

 

Speaking at the launch, RK Krishna Kumar, vice chairman, Tata Global Beverages, said, "The launch of Tata Water Plus - India's first nutrient water is a result of the Tata group's commitment towards creating innovative products that meet consumer needs like never before. From introducing the desh ka namak, the country's first packaged iodised salt, to launching the people's car, Tata Nano, we are now happy to bring innovation to the world of hydration.  NourishCo, the joint venture with PepsiCo India, helps us leverage the trust invested in the Tata name and PepsiCo's unique sales and distribution expertise. The launch of Tata Water Plus marks the beginning of an exhilarating journey aimed at redefining the water category in India. This launch is an important step in actualising Tata Global Beverages' vision of creating innovative beverages that are good for you."

Tamil Nadu will be the first market where the product will be rolled out, covering 20 towns such as Coimbatore, Salem and Madurai, amongst others. Read more.

Tata Technologies Displays eMO EV in Michelin Challenge Design at NAIAS 

In January, Tata Technologies was selected by Michelin to display its electric MObility (eMO) engineering study Electric Vehicle (EV) as part of the prestigious Michelin Challenge Design display at the 2012 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.

 

The 2012 Michelin Challenge Design Theme, "City 2046: Art, Life and Ingenuity - Transforming Personal Mobility," challenged participants to design a personal, ground-based vehicle that can transport between two and 10 people, meeting the anticipated needs of select cities in 2046, when more options for public and private transport will be offered. Michelin challenged entrants to create a vehicle that can inspire, as well as transport. Design winners were invited to be an exhibitor at the 2012 NAIAS. 

 

Tata Technologies' Vehicle Programs & Development (VPD) Group, with more than 300 engineers operating from its four automotive engineering centers of excellence worldwide - Detroit, MI, Pune (India), Coventry (UK), and Stuttgart (Germany) - were tasked with developing eMO.

 

Kevin Fisher, VPD President said "this next decade will see an ever-increasing demand for

more efficient and accelerated product development that also will need to incorporate more new

technology than the auto industry has seen in 30 years," Fisher said. "We are positioned to set

the pace in automotive product development and technological innovation." Read more.
 

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