This Diwali, a diya lit up the living room of the CEO of world’s largest lighting company, Royal Philips Electronics. Eric Rondolat, the global CEO of the Dutch giant’s lighting business, is pretty impressed by his company’s latest innovation – an LED diya developed in India, which creates the glow of a real candle.
“It can share the best place in the living room,” says Rondolat, 46, who joined Philips in April from Schneider Electric, adding that the company will invest heavily into development of such local technologies and products in India, which will be taken to other global markets.
Rondolat was in India last weekend, in his first visit to the country after taking charge.
“India is one market where Philips will grow its investment since we are extremely confident about the growth potential,” he says.
He has his reasons, from young consumers to huge demand and potential. “The average age of consumer here is 26 years,” Rondolat says. “Almost 32% of people still don’t have access to electricity, and still there is a growing craze for latest technology and energy-efficient products like LEDs.”
