Accolades and awards are coming faster than ever to Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, the first BioSpectrum Person of the Year (2003). The Economic Times has chosen the Biocon chief as the Businesswoman of 2004 in October.

In a survey published by newsweekly, Outlook, Indian women rate Kiran as the third most admired Indian personality. The Biocon chief's score of 7.83 out of 10 was just behind activist leader Medha Patkar (No. 1) and super cop, Kiran Bedi (No.2). Surprisingly, the women surveyed for the special issue of Outlook rated Congress president Sonia Gandhi, No.4 with a score of 7.69.

The survey was conducted by the research agency Cfore among 758 women, including college students, graduates, post graduated, in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore. The ratings were based on the qualities possessed-success, modern outlook, independence, fame, courage and personality. Herbal beauty queen Shahnaz Husain is the only other self-made entrepreneur in the Top 12 most admired women list made up of film personalities, bankers and bureaucrats, and NGO activists.

AP gets new biotech chief

Dr A Ashok is the new secretary, biotechnology, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Born in 1960 in Hyderabad, this IAS officer has done his MBBS, MD, in Social Preventive Medicine & Public Health & (MBA). In his professional 15-year oeuvre, he has worked in various capacities in the government departments and organizations.

He was the deputy collector in Nizambad and Ranga Reddy districts and has worked as the revenue divisional officer for districts like Chevella and Nagar Kurnool, joint-collector in the office of collectorate, Hyderabad and the deputy commissioner, prohibition and excise, joint collector, Mahaboobnagar and so on.

Sudipta Sen joins SAS India

SAS, a business intelligence solutions provider, announced the appointment of Sudipta Sen as its CEO and managing director. Vivek Gokarn, the present CEO & managing director, SAS India has been promoted to a regional Asia-Pacific responsibility of professional services director, SAS-South East Asia and India. Prior to this appointment, Sudipta Sen was the managing director of Comsat Max.