TNT Annual Report and Form 20-F 2006

Phani Raj

Phani Raj
TNT Express India, Manager - Information Systems
34 years old, married, 1 child

Unless you want to come away with your head reeling, don’t get drawn into a detailed conversation with Raj about his job. He is likely to bowl you over with computer terms that if you are not in his line of business will sound like double Dutch. He clearly knows his stuff. Yet unlike many IT specialists, he is also a people person and has a natural charm and understanding character that must be the secret to his success. Within three months, in a project known simply as Domestic, Raj and his team have connected 63 offices across India to create what is now the largest IT network in a TNT country. Don’t ask about the details!

Raj: “I have been fascinated by technology since I was young and can remember trying to work out how things like telephones work. You can maybe imagine that being in my current position is something of a dream job! When I started at TNT India in September ’97, we had just 40 PCs and a handful of printers. We now have some 1,400 computers and 800 printers, spread across 63 locations, all connected seamlessly on a hybrid network.”

Raj: “I have been fascinated by technology since I was young and can remember trying to work out how things like telephones work. You can maybe imagine that being in my current position is something of a dream job! When I started at TNT India in September ’97, we had just 40 PCs and a handful of printers. We now have some 1,400 computers and 800 printers, spread across 63 locations, all connected seamlessly on a hybrid network.”

“The key to the success of the implementation was threefold in my eyes. You have to ensure your coordination is tight. You have to provide precision planning with contingencies. And you have to listen and understand those you are working with – connect with them. Even IT is a people game in the end. Just for the record – we’re in for a fun time again. We have just purchased a company called Speedage and they have over 500 offices. We’re definitely going to need more equipment!”