Mr. D.P. Lalvani, former Vice President, Marketing at TAFE passed away on the 11th of August 2012 at Chennai. A staunch “MF” man, his association with the brand preceded his stint at TAFE with his joining Massey Ferguson India (MFI) Limited prior to 1958. Joining TAFE when it took over the MF business in India as Distribution operations Manager, he was instrumental in laying the foundation of the Sales and Marketing function at TAFE based on his experience with the Massey Ferguson system of working.
Born on 18th April 1923 in what is now Pakistan, he survived a personally traumatic flight to India. A graduate Agricultural Engineer, he served for a short while with the government agricultural farm, prior to joining Massey Ferguson India Limited. He brought to TAFE, many of the systems practiced at MFI and was very particular about post sales customer support even then, encouraging dealers to invest in service infrastructure, parts stocks and in training of dealer service personnel.
A well read and widely travelled person, with his tall stature and his trademark pipe in his hand, he was for many years the face of TAFE to many overseas associates. He never stopped learning and made it a point to learn about latest developments in marketing management and general industry. A connoisseur of good food and beverages, he was excellent company and would regale people at office parties with his tongue in cheek humorous anecdotes of early days at TAFE and was an effective foil for the more earthy humour of his colleague at TAFE and MFI, Mr. RL Sehgal.
Our sympathies to the bereaved family. May his soul rest in peace