&w=3840&q=100)
From kitchen to Cloud: How Ajay Vij is steering Accenture's India engine
Listen to This Article
Getting a gourmet Italian restaurant to open exclusively for lunch is rare in Mumbai. But for Ajay Vij, senior country managing director, Accenture India, all it takes is a phone call. And why not? Before he entered the tech industry in 2000, Vij was a chef with Oberoi Group — and hospitality, clearly, still follows him.
We meet at Romano's, the Italian specialty restaurant at JW Marriott Sahar, which is usually shut for lunch. Today, it has opened just for Vij. That's not all. The chef has rolled out a special three-course menu: Beetroot roulade to start, followed by truffle
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
2 hours ago
- Economic Times
German bond yields hit four-month highs, bets wane on ECB cuts
German 10-year government bond yields hit their highest in four months on Friday, as fading conviction among investors for steeper rate cuts from the European Central Bank compounded a push out of safe havens on optimism over U.S.-EU trade talks. ADVERTISEMENT The ECB left interest rates at 2% on Thursday, as expected, and President Christine Lagarde suggested policymakers were less concerned than before about an abrupt slowdown in growth and inflation over the coming year. Bond yields rose sharply in response. Meanwhile, optimism is growing that the European Union will be able to secure an agreement with the United States on trade at a lower tariff than the 30% threatened by President Donald Trump if there is no deal by his August 1 deadline. Government bonds came under pressure, as did gold and safe-haven currencies like the Japanese yen and Swiss franc. Two-year German Schatz yields, which rose by nearly 12 basis points on Thursday in their biggest one-day increase since mid-May, were up 3.6 bps at 1.947%, their highest since April 3, the day after Trump's "Liberation Day" announcement on tariffs. Benchmark 10-year German yields were up 6 bps to 2.75%, their highest since the end of March, while Italian yields rose 7 bps to 3.636%, leaving the gap between the two at 88.2 bps, its widest in a week. ADVERTISEMENT Two sources told Reuters on Thursday that ECB policymakers were setting the bar high for a September rate cut and would need to see a significant deterioration in growth and inflation before backing further easing. BRIGHTER OUTLOOK ADVERTISEMENT Recent economic data suggests the euro zone is weathering uncertainty over U.S. tariffs reasonably well. Euro zone business activity hit an 11-month high in early July, based on HCOB's preliminary composite euro zone Purchasing Managers' Index, compiled by S&P Global on Thursday. ADVERTISEMENT "After good PMI numbers and a positive tone from the ECB, the path towards higher rates is becoming even clearer. If a trade deal gets signed, we should see rates move up further, with the 10-year swap rate hitting at least 2.8%," ING rates strategist Michiel Tukker said. The 10-year swap rate, an indicator of long-term borrowing costs, is hovering around 2.7%, its highest since March, having risen by nearly 20 bps in the last month. ADVERTISEMENT Tukker said a move towards 3% would likely be slower and would depend on growth remaining resilient. Money markets show traders are undecided about another ECB rate cut this year, attaching about a 30% chance of a drop below 2% by the end of December. Reflecting some of that greater confidence in the outlook was a modest improvement in German business morale in July. A survey on Friday from the Ifo institute showed its business climate index rose to 88.6 this month - the highest in 13 months - from 88.4 in June, slightly below a Reuters forecast for 89.0. A separate report from the ECB showed bank lending in the euro zone grew at the fastest pace in two years last month, extending a gradual recovery fuelled by lower borrowing costs and a stabilisation in the economy.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
France says European satellite venture talks are making progress
PARIS: Efforts to set up a European space project alliance involving Italy's Leonardo , France's Thales and Airbus and aimed at challenging Elon Musk 's Starlink are making progress, said France's industry minister on Thursday. "It's a project which we support. Talks are moving forward in a constructive manner," said France's Marc Ferracci during a meeting in Paris with his Italian counterpart Adolfo Urso. Urso said negotiations were aiming at giving the two countries an equal footing in the project, endorsed by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Paris Airshow in June. Under the so-called "Project Bromo", named after an Indonesian volcano, Leonardo, Thales and Airbus have been exploring plans to set up a new satellite manufacturing company to better compete with the U.S. and China, but so far progress has been modest. Leonardo's Chief Executive Roberto Cingolani said last month that the three companies would make another assessment on where the deal stands by the end of July.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
VLF Tennis e-scooter updated, priced at Rs 1.30 lakh: Gets new features, more range
Italian EV maker VLF has refreshed its flagship Tennis electric scooter for India, squeezing out another 20 km of travel on a single charge while holding the ex‑showroom price at Rs 1.29 lakh. VLF has also broadened the colour palette. The familiar Snowflake White and Fire Fury Dark Red are joined by Slate Blue and Ebony Black. Styling remains sharply angular: a rectangular LED head‑lamp, 12‑inch alloys, and disc brakes at both ends linked by a Combined Braking System. Here's a look at key highlights. VLF Tennis e-scooter: Battery, range and features Thanks to a new aluminium‑shell LMFP battery , the claimed range climbs from 130 km to 150 km, yet a full top‑up still takes about three hours with the bundled 720 W portable charger. Power comes from a hub motor that now peaks at 2.57 kW and delivers a hefty 157 Nm of torque. Riders can flip between Eco, Normal and Sport modes to balance zip with battery life. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indonesia: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Undo by Taboola by Taboola Simple One review: Is this the EV to beat? | TOI Auto Inside the apron sits an LMFP battery that promises better heat management, while practical touches include an 18‑litre under‑seat boot, keyless start, a USB charging port and a 5‑inch TFT dash with smartphone pairing. Three riding modes, turn‑by‑turn navigation and full LED lighting round out the tech list. VLF Tennis e-scooter: Deliveries Deliveries begin 25 November in New Delhi, Bengaluru and Pune, and VLF says its petrol‑powered Mobster 180 and 125 scooters will follow later in the year. Stay tuned to TOI Auto for latest updates on the automotive sector and do follow us on our social media handles. Discover everything about the automotive world at Times of India .
