It was quite a reception committee for Mr Cyrus Mistry on Thursday.

The heir apparent of Mr Ratan Tata, accustomed to a low-key work style, found himself besieged by hordes of media persons who had taken positions outside Bombay House, the Tata Group headquarters, since 9 a.m.

Mr Mistry was appointed Vice-Chairman of Tata Sons on Wednesday and will take over the mantle in December 2012. The news dominated headlines in television and newspapers and, naturally, an update of his first big day out at work was top priority for the media.

Patient wait

However, there was no sign of the man. TV crew members were seen constantly surveying the three entrances of Bombay House to grab him on arrival and, hopefully, get the all-precious sound bites.

The long wait came to an end at about 11.30 a.m. Mr Mistry drove straight down from the head office of Shapoorji Pallonji Group at Colaba, a 20-minute drive. What should have been his routine zipping through the entrance of Bombay House turned out to be an ordeal with hordes of TV crew blocking his way.

Eventually, he managed to break through, thanks to the security guards who rushed to help.

Earlier, Mr B. Muthuraman and Mr Ishaat Hussain, Board Members of Tata Sons, were seen entering Bombay House followed by Tata Tea Chief Executive Officer, Mr Percy T. Siganporia.

Mr Mistry has his task cut out in taking the $83 billion Tata Group to the next level of growth. Within this structure are 31 listed companies and over 425,000 employees.

> suresh@thehindu.co.in

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