Peter Kronschnabl, 41, isn’t new to India. He first visited this country in 1994 as a student on a project for BMW. So, when we meet him for dinner at SmokeHouse Grill in Delhi’s Masjid Moth Commercial Complex, he’s all about what a tremendous change the country has gone through. “Just look at the cars,” he says. “Back in 1994, there were a lot of Ambassadors and old Fiats and Marutis. Do you remember the huge buzz around the then recently launched Maruti Zen? This year, we (BMW India) hope to sell 2,800 cars.
That, to me, is an indication of a sea change in the market.” In 1994, Kronschnabl travelled in autorickshaws, stayed in more downmarket hotels, and like many young Europeans, he and his five student colleagues went down to Goa to wrap up their trip. “I am a very curious man by nature,” he reminisces. “I guess that helps me adjust to new cultures better. expatriate must do is realise that different countries are actually different!” His multicultural education began straight after school when he was drafted into the German Bundeswehr (military) as is the norm there. “Because I could speak good French and English, I was asked if I wanted to be posted to NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) headquarters outside Brussels.0
I was one of the lucky 200 or so draftees selected from Germany.” NATO opened him up to several new cultures— ”It was the best I could have hoped for as a draftee.” His previous postings to Poland and Hungary were particularly enjoyable. “Well, India is fun, too, but I can’t exactly fly back to Munich for the weekend from here.” And incredibly, the military loosened him, too, and taught him to relax. He was a typical “stiff” German the day he walked into his commanding officer’s office near Brussels. “There he was chewing gum and with his feet on the table!” he laughs. “He was an American, of course.” Needless to say, Kronschnabl is a total car fanatic. He currently drives a BMW X5 sports utility vehicle. “Or rather, I am driven in an X5—Delhi traffic is a bit crazy,” he says. “But, I did drive a new 6-series convertible recently, and I had a blast.” Kronschnabl is an avid golfer.
He tries to get a round in every once in a while at the DLF Golf Course in Gurgaon, and whenever he has the time, he also enjoys a spot of football with some other expatriates and locals. “I guess that is because I’m German!” He was an avid windsurfer when he was younger—there was a lake near his house, and he got the bug. “Oh, we surfed all over the place, even on the Atlantic near the Iberian coast,” Kronschanbl says. “But, I tried it again a few years ago and while I could still do the basic stuff, I just did not have it in me anymore, I guess one does get older and you change physically and mentally.” There’s no wind-surfing in Delhi, but still, Kronschnabl gets around. “As you know, my job involves a lot of travel across the country to various dealerships in Bangalore and Kolkata and to the factory in Chennai.
It’s great. My dealers like to take me out for dinner and wow, some of them really pull out all stops. I know India’s supposed to be a poor country, but there’s a hell of a lot of money around when we go for dinner!” His work also takes him abroad a fair bit—he just returned from Bangkok after a Asia-Pacific meeting. But he occasionally travels for pleasure, too. “I love going to South-East Asia and California.” A bachelor, Kronschnabl barely eats dinner at his “functional” home in Vasant Vihar. “Four days a week, I am having some formal dinner. Maybe once a week, I’ll have dinner at home, usually just cold cuts. I particularly love this restaurant (Smokehouse Grill). It has been there ever since I arrived.
The food is great and has been consistent and the wine list is superb, I particularly like French Reds. I also like going to Olive, where the food is also quite nice.” As for his personal life, “That’s personal, no?” he asks jokingly. “But seriously, I barely have any time in my life. I haven’t been to see a movie because I think that it is a waste of time. Yes, I do go out a couple of nights with friends, that is about it.”
Inside track
Born: Bavaria, Germany, 1967
Family: Single
Educated: MBA from Munich, Germany
First Job: Started his own marketing consultancy in University
Favourite Destination: Southern California Would Love To Visit: South-East Asia
Mantra In Life: You must work hard in order to guarantee success
Kronschnabl’s average day
6.30 A.M.Wake up
7.30 A.M.Exercises and Breakfast
8.30 A.M. Gets into his office in Gurgaon
5.30-6.30 Meetings all day and then he’s out by 5.30-6.30 p.m.
10-10.30 Back home for a change of clothes and then out again, usually on work
