Surprising many, and in blatant disregard for seniority, Trehan, then 54, was offered the position of managing director in 2001. For Trehan, who was president of the digital division at the time, it seemed like the culmination of a career that had seen nothing but success. And, like every other opportunity in his gilded professional life, Trehan grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
We begin with the beginnings—Trehan’s childhood, which he talks about with his characteristic élan: “We are Maharashtrians, but we originally lived in what is now Pakistan. My father was a doctor, and worked for the health services. We kept moving from place to place as he got transferred.” When I ask him how he coped with schooling, Trehan shrugs: “Oh, I was an excellent student. I learnt my lessons effortlessly, and topped in every school I enrolled.”
The watermelon juice over, we order our starters. I ask for a chicken kebab, while Trehan asks to be served the best fish starter on the menu. Between bites, the story continues.
So good was Trehan at his studies that his teachers bumped him up a couple of classes on occasions, so that he wouldn’t steamroll over his less gifted classmates. When he talks of his academic prowess, Trehan is proud, of course, but not arrogant. In fact, his nonchalance is of one who is completely confident of his abilities.
Trehan graduated as an engineer when he was just 18 years old. Oh, and he won the gold medal too. Did he ever not top anything in school? I ask—trying to fight back personal memories of passing math by a single mark four times in two years. “My eternal regret is that I could never do well in sports. I would work very hard at table tennis and cricket, but wasn’t good enough to make it to the team.” Even then, Trehan managed to find his way into the reserve team, and win a participation certificate. “But I really wish I could have represented my school in sports competitions.”
After graduating, Trehan was advised by one of his professors to pursue a career in academics. “My professor told me that I simply didn’t have the mentality to do well in industry. That I would never fit in.” At that very moment, Trehan decided to join industry. “He threw me a challenge, I took it up!” he says, laughing.
Trehan joined the then Crompton Parkinson Ltd as a management trainee in 1972. The subsequent years would see him go to the State University of New York, Stony Brook, for his MS. He would then return to be with his family in India.
Trehan began his career with the Crompton family, and he strayed from the fold a couple of times, drafting successful stints with other companies. But he always returned. “I enjoyed my sojourns in other companies. I learnt many things, got lots of opportunities. Even picked up golf. But deep inside, I think I was, and always will be, a Crompton man.”
Finally, in May 2000, when he took over as managing director, the committed company man had a chance to make a difference. The erstwhile plant manager and division head who, by his own admission, was a hit with his employees, changed his style. “At that time, the company needed a completely no-nonsense approach. I could no longer be my usual friendly self.”