Early Life & Education:
- Born in 1948 into the TTK Group family founded by T T Krishnamachari in 1928 in Chennai (then Madras). His father T.T. Krishnamachari became a Union minister and held the portfolios of finance, industry and commerce for close to fifteen years.
- Graduated from IIT Madras with B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering with distinction
- Won President's and Banco Foundation Prizes
- Earned M.S. in Operations Research and Business Management from Cornell University, US in 1972
Career Milestones:
1973 - Joined Tamil Nadu Printers & Traders as General Manager; revived it within a year
1975 - Appointed Managing Director of TTK Prestige at age 26
Late 1970s - Designed the iconic gasket release system (safety valve) when faulty pressure cooker reports threatened the company's reputation. He chose not to patent the safety invention, and instead encouraged widespread adoption, stating that some things—especially life-saving safety innovations—should benefit everyone, even competitors, for the greater good.
- This innovation changed how Indian households viewed cookware
1980s-1990s - Led Prestige's expansion into non-stick cookware and kitchen appliances
- Created memorable 1980s TV campaign linking husband's affection with wife's kitchen safety
- Transformed functional appliance into "emblem of care and modern aspiration"
1996 - Won IIT Madras Distinguished Alumnus Award
- Launched Manttra Inc in the US, making Prestige India's first kitchenware brand with 40% US market share (now top-selling Indian brand and leading pressure cooker brand in US)
2000s - Guided TTK Group joint ventures in healthcare and personal care (SSL International for Durex brand)
2010s - Oversaw launch of Prestige Smart Kitchen retail chain and 'Clean Home' range
His book Disrupt and Conquer: How TTK Prestige Became a Billion Dollar Company tells the story of an accidental entrepreneur who built an extraordinary company which fought off bankruptcy and rose like a phoenix to become a highly profitable, successful entity.
- Transformed modest cookware company into one of India's most beloved homegrown brands
- Steered company from near-bankruptcy to global expansion
- Acquired UK's Horwood Homewares
- Evolved Prestige from pressure-cooker manufacturer to full kitchen-solutions brand (cookware, electrical appliances, home-care products)
- Competed fiercely with Hawkins Cookers, with their rivalry spurring innovation across India's kitchen appliance industry
- Blended engineering precision with emotional consumer connection