Suzlon chief is E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year

Tulsi Tanti, chairman of the country's leading wind power company, Suzlon Energy, was today named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2006 at an award banquet in Mumbai. Union Commerce Minister Kamal Nath was the chief guest.

Tanti, who pipped seven other contenders to the post, will represent India at the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in Monte Carlo, Monaco, next June.

Tata Consultancy Services CEO S Ramadorai was named Manager Entrepreneur of the Year.

Vedanta Resources founder and CEO Anil Agarwal was given the Manufacturing category award, Pantaloon Retail Managing Director Kishore Biyani the Services category award, Financial Technologies Managing Director Jignesh Shah the Business Transformation award, and Writers & Publishers (Dainik Bhaskar) Director Girish Agarwal the Information, Communications and Entertainment category award.

SKS Microfinance Founder and CEO Vikram Akula was declared the Start-up Entrepreneur of the Year.

"Each of our winners has built businesses with immense passion, explored uncharted territories, created jobs and added vibrancy to the economy," said Ernst & Young country managing partner Rajiv Memani.

The five-member jury was chaired by Bharti Enterprises Chairman Sunil Mittal.