GenNext is being groomed to take charge at GE Shipping, India’s largest private shipping company promoted by the Sheths.

While Nirja Sheth, daughter of deputy chairman and managing director Bharat Sheth, has joined wholly-owned subsidiary Greatship (India) as officer-marketing, Rahul Sheth, the elder son of executive director Ravi Sheth, has undergone summer training at the company.

Nirja has a Masters degree (MSc) in shipping, trade & finance from Cass Business School, London, after graduating in Business Administration from Cardiff University, Whales, UK. She joined the company in October 2008, received shareholders’ nod for appointment on June 26.

“Rahul, at present a commerce undergrad in Mumbai, is likely to join a post-graduate course in shipping and finance, before joining the family-owned company,” said a senior company official, who didn’t wish to be named.

A shipping industry official said it was apparent that the fourth generation members of the family were being groomed to take charge of the company. Sixty-year-old GE Shipping was founded by Vasant J Sheth.

Greatship India was formed after Bharat and Ravi parted ways with their cousin Vijay Sheth, through a vertical split of GE Shipping’s shipping and offshore businesses in September 2005. Bharat and Ravi took charge of GE Shipping, leaving Vijay to manage the demerged entity, Great Offshore (GOL). Greatship was later established as a competitor to Great Offshore. Vijay Sheth, who has sold his stake in Great Offshore to Bharati Shipyard recently, is expected to start a new business with his son soon.

GenNext have been taking charge at other business families too. Essar group, which was traditionally managed by brothers Shashi Ruia and Ravi Ruia, has now given well-defined roles to its heir apparents. While Shashi Ruia’s elder son Prashant Ruia is in charge of the manufacturing business, his younger brother Anshuman Ruia manages the services business. Ravi Ruia’s son Rewant Ruia is looking after retail and realty businesses.

In the Adi Godrej family, daughters Tanya Dubash and Nisa Godrej are active in Godrej Consumer Products, the group’s flagship FMCG company, and in other companies.