The Choice International Group (CIG), run and owned by enterprising Chinese woman, Chief Diana Chen, has poached another top Official from the Stallion Group.
Stallion Group, which controls the highest number of automobile brands in Nigeria (Hyundai, VW, Audi, Ashok Leyland, Nissan, Honda,and until recently, Changan), is a formidable name in automobiles business in the country.
On the other hand, CIG Motors, which came into the Nigerian motor market less than 10 years ago, has made remarkable marks with the GAC brand.
Manish Rohtagi, who until recently, was the Managing Director of Stallion Auto Keke Limited, a subsidiary of Stallion Motors, has successfully been moved by Diana Chen to her company, which is struggling to maintain standards owing to rapid expansion drive.
Stallion Group had hired Manish about 3 years ago from the Simba Group, following the take over of the Bajaj 3-wheeler franchise by Stallion from Dag Industries, which was left with only the Bajaj 2-wheeler business.
Manish was the power horse behind the success of the TVS 3-wheeler brand distributed by the Simba Group.
Hence, Manish has been hired by Diana Chen, as Group CEO of the business in order to assist the Chinese woman in the day-to-day running of the business which goes beyond automobiles.
The CIG Group also distributes other fast moving products like the Gree air-conditioner, Lontor range of products among others.
Though the movement of Manish to CIG is seen as a normal movement as labour is mobile, industry watchers are skeptical about how long the Indian will last with Diana Chen.
This is because the rate of management staff turnover in CIG is unacceptably high and many management staff working with Diana Chen are known to stay only for very short periods.
Transport Day recalls that a former Managing Director of Stallion Motors, Mr. Parvis Singh, who also left Stallion Motors to work for Diana Chen, barely lasted for one year in the company.
This was keeping to the trend in the company which had in the past, recorded very short stay of management staff.
As it stands, it is hoped that Manish, known to be very meticulous and pushy, will break the trend and spend ample time with the Chinese woman who is looking up to open an impressive Abuja edifice located somewhere in Garki any time soon.
