Differences between Richard Branson and Vijay Mallya
Subject: Differences between Richard Branson and Vijay Mallya
Analytical Summary
This report analyses the differences between the leadership of Virgin Group’s Founder Richard Branson and UB Group’s Chairman Vijay Mallya. The two leaders operate in a wide range of industries, and live very public lifestyles, promoting both themselves and their companies through their activities. This is done with a view to determine which leadership style is better suited to the environment they are operating in, and what qualities leaders must possess to be successful. The analysis, covering the background, business ideologies, leadership style and public persona of these leaders, shows Richard Branson is clearly the better leader of the two.
Terms of Reference
This report has the following terms of reference:
a. To analyse the differences between two business leaders operating in similar environments
b. To provide recommendations for these leaders to improve their leadership ability and perception, if need be.
Introduction
Richard Branson is the Founder of the Virgin Group, a conglomerate of over 400 companies that includes airlines, mobile phones, music records, etc. Vijay Mallya is the Chairman of United Breweries Group, which owns many Indian liquor brands, a currently-defunct airline and a Formula 1 racing team, among other businesses.
The two industrialists have been compared widely in the media due mostly to their larger-than-life public appearances and presence in the high-profile airline industry. However, despite the similarities, the two leaders are perceived very differently by both their employees and the public.
Methods
Sourcing information from various articles published about the two leaders in reputed journals and newspapers, the report has compared and contrasted them on the following parameters:
1. Background – Personal history and rise to prominence
2. Business Role – Nature of decisions made for respective companies
3. Business Ideology –
Analytical Summary
This report analyses the differences between the leadership of Virgin Group’s Founder Richard Branson and UB Group’s Chairman Vijay Mallya. The two leaders operate in a wide range of industries, and live very public lifestyles, promoting both themselves and their companies through their activities. This is done with a view to determine which leadership style is better suited to the environment they are operating in, and what qualities leaders must possess to be successful. The analysis, covering the background, business ideologies, leadership style and public persona of these leaders, shows Richard Branson is clearly the better leader of the two.
Terms of Reference
This report has the following terms of reference:
a. To analyse the differences between two business leaders operating in similar environments
b. To provide recommendations for these leaders to improve their leadership ability and perception, if need be.
Introduction
Richard Branson is the Founder of the Virgin Group, a conglomerate of over 400 companies that includes airlines, mobile phones, music records, etc. Vijay Mallya is the Chairman of United Breweries Group, which owns many Indian liquor brands, a currently-defunct airline and a Formula 1 racing team, among other businesses.
The two industrialists have been compared widely in the media due mostly to their larger-than-life public appearances and presence in the high-profile airline industry. However, despite the similarities, the two leaders are perceived very differently by both their employees and the public.
Methods
Sourcing information from various articles published about the two leaders in reputed journals and newspapers, the report has compared and contrasted them on the following parameters:
1. Background – Personal history and rise to prominence
2. Business Role – Nature of decisions made for respective companies
3. Business Ideology –
References: Branson, R., 2010, Flying Into Turbulence, Losing My Virginity, 1st Ed.315-326, UK: Virgin Books Burke, J., 12 Nov 2012, The rise and fall of Vijay Mallya: are India 's boom times ending?, The Guardian, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/nov/12/vijay-mallya-kingfisher-broke-india, Accessed On 01 Nov 2013 Mahalingam, T.V., 13 Nov 2011, Why Vijay Mallya is not Richard Branson & vice versa, http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-11-13/news/30391497_1_brand-ambassador-vijay-mallya-kingfisher-airlines, The Economic Times, Accessed on 02 Nov 2013 Jagannathan, R., 27 Sep 2012, Is Vijay Mallya India’s worst businessman?, First Post, http://www.firstpost.com/business/is-vijay-mallya-indias-worst-businessman-470358.html?utm_source=ref_article, Accessed on 02 Nov 2013 Prabhakar, B., 28 Oct 2012, Kingfisher crisis: We borrow from those who earn less than us, say employees, The Economic Times, http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-company/corporate-trends/Kingfisher-crisis-We-borrow-from-those-who-earn-less-than-us-say-employees/articleshow/16984690.cms, Accessed on 04 Nov 2013 Exhibits Exhibit : Vijay Mallya endorses Kingfisher Airlines Exhibit : Richard Branson 's publicity stunt at New York 's Times Square Exhibit : Kingfisher Share Prices 2007-13 [Source: moneycontrol.com]