Ananthakrishnan, who had earlier headed the Tiruchirapalli boiler division of Bharat Heavy Electricals, has been hired as director of operations of BGR Energy, a city-based power sector equipment manufacturer.

On Monday, BGR Energy had announced the appointment of T. Shankaralingam, former chairman of power utility NTPC, as its managing director.

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Chennai realtor enters hospitality sector

Chennai: City-based residential property developer Akshaya will foray into hospitality and commercial real estate and space.

'We are planning to build two 60-room resorts in Mahabalipuram and Yercaud (in Tamil Nadu) in 2010. We will launch a 33,500 square feet business centre in Chennai,' said company chairman and managing director T. Chitty Babu.

He added that the Rs.150-crore company was also looking out for a foreign hotel management company to run the two resorts.

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Amrit Fresh forays into dairy market

Kolkata: City-based Rs.650 crore Amrit Group has forayed into the dairy market with the launch of three varieties of liquid milks -- cow milk, toned milk and double toned milk -- under the flagship brand 'Amrit Fresh'.

The group, which is engaged in manufacturing and production of quality animal feeds, poultry, dairy and value added processed food products in eastern and northern India, plans to invest Rs.300 crore over three years for the dairy project.

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US firm launches budget hotel in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: Berggruen Hotels, owned by the US-based Berggruen Holdings Inc, Friday opened a 101-room two-suite mid-market hotel 'Keys' in Kerala.

The company already operates two Keys hotels and resorts in India - one in Lonavala in Maharashtra and the other in Hyderabad. It also plans to open budget hotels in Ludhiana, Mahabaleshwar, Bangalore and Jaipur this fiscal.