Hinting at establishing his own start-up, an enthusiastic Seth told The Financial Express: "I'm looking at opportunities in the e-commerce field, which I think are very creative and exciting." While the blueprint is yet to be chalked out, Seth indicated that the thought process on the same has already kickstarted.

Seth had an illustrious 15-year career with the Tata Group. He, however, continues as director on the boards of Tata Industries and Tata Projects. Citing personal reasons for stepping down from the helm of the Rs 1,521 crore Tata Chemicals, Seth said that he was looking forward to the "break", after which he would most likely chalk out a future course of action.

On the prospects of the Rs 16,000 LNG (liquefied natural gas) project, which was mainly conceptualised by Seth in keeping with the future requirement for the fertiliser industry, he said that this would be pursued after the government announces the fertiliser policy.

Seth also said that he was open to being part of government panels to look into the nuances of the fertiliser industry issues at large. Seth's presence on such government bodies would be of immense importance to the industry, according to observers.

A graduate from IIT Kanpur, Seth received his Masters and PhD in chemical engineering from the University of California at Berkeley, California (USA). Before joining the Tata Group in 1985 as chief planning executive of the erstwhile Tata Fertilizers, which was merged with Tata Chemicals, Seth worked with Stanford Research Institute in California. He also had a five-year stint with the Royal Dutch/Shell Group in the Netherlands, prior to joining the Tatas.

Seth has been instrumental in successfully commissioning the urea-ammonia plant at Babrala, Uttar Pradesh, for Tata Chemicals. A number of key modernisaiton and productivity enhancement schemes were also undertaken at the company's Mithapur facility in Gujarat during his tenure as managing director.