"The name Agilent in itself is a benchmark. We have to live up to it. Otherwise we'll become a joke."

The president designate

of to-be-formed Agilent Technologies India, Kewal Khanna,

is a ten-year HP veteran. He talks about his company's global realignment,

and his priorities in India.

How does the

formation of Agilent Technologies affect your operations?



Basically, this will help us make more focused decisions. The computer
and imaging side of the company is distribution oriented. Our customers

have very special need. This should really help us make fast decisions.

I think our customers will see better support from us. And honestly

I feel that the word Agilent, derived from agile, will keep us on our

toes and if the customer starts saying that we have become more agile,

then I think the purpose will be served.

Are you trying

to say that earlier there was some complacency?



I would say that the speed was lacking. It was happening, but not the
way we wanted it to be. If we had continued like this, in three-to-four

years, we would have found that we are paying all attention to one side

(the computing and imaging segment of HP).

Don't you think

losing the HP name might pose a problem?



With the same people, the same policies and the same products, our customers
are not going to leave us whatever be the name. When AT&T launched

Lucent Technologies no one knew the name, but it successfully put the

name in people's mind.



Brand is what it means to the customer through the services and the
product that you provide. Today Agilent is just a name. Customers will

start identifying our services with the name and that would be the making

of a brand.

What are your

plans for the Indian market?



Look, the immediate challenge is to continue with what we are doing.
Greater speed, greater efficiency and, hopefully, greater growth. Personally,

the bigger challenge would be to make sure that the defined set of customers

recognize us to be agile.

What would be

the size of the Indian operations of Agilent Technologies?



Ratio in India is a little more favorable towards us. I think we contributed
about 1/3 to 1/4 of the total revenue generated in India. In test and

measurement, I think I am closer to 35% to 40% of the market share.

In medical, in the last 10 years, we have grown 10 times in India; chemical

analysis group has grown approximately four times.

Which segment

of Agilent Technologies is doing the maximum business in India?



Test and Measurement group, which includes Automated Test Group, Communications
Solutions Group and Electronic Products and Solutions Group (EPSG),

is by far is the largest. Out of them EPSG, does best in India.