V Krishnamurthy, founder Chairman and CEO of Maruti Udyog, passed away in Chennai on Sunday. He was 97.

Prior to Maruti, he held leadership positions in Bharat Heavy Electricals and Steel Authority of India. He was respected across industry circles for his acumen and this was borne out in the track record of the companies he spearheaded.

Maruti in particular heralded the advent of a new revolution on wheels which truly set the Indian landscape on a different trajectory in the people's car. The 800 turned out to be a huge success story and Krishnamurthy played a key role in establishing a strong base for Maruti Udyog, which has since been rechristened Maruti Suzuki, in India.

Chairman Emeritus of TVS Motor Company, Venu Srinivasan said, "Dr. V. Krishnamurthy was my mentor right from the time I started work and through my entire career. He had an important role to play in helping me build TVS Motor Company. 

"He was one of the tallest leaders in Indian industry. His contribution to the growth of India was immeasurable. It  is a great loss to Indian industry and to the country. 

I will certainly miss his genial and wise counsel."

Similar sentiments will be echoed across corporate India where Krishnamurthy had made his presence felt in challenging times. The foundation created then was important for Indian industry to hold its own in subsequent years.