The family's assets were divided into four in 1999, with Gautaum's older brother Karan parting ways in 2005. Gautam became the Chairman of Crompton Greaves on 22 July 2004. When Lalit Mohan Thapar retired, he chose Gautam over Vikram. In 2005, he handed over the reins of the Business empire to Gautam, along with his voting rights, shares and most of his personal effects in his will.
Gautam Thapar became the Chairman of the Group on 1 July 2006. He is now on the Board of several companies in India and abroad.
Gautam Thapar promotes golf and is President of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI). The EUR 1.8m Avantha Masters, tri-sanctioned by the European Tour, the Asian Tour and the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), is today India's richest golf event and synonymous with professional international golf in India. In July 2013, King's College, London conferred an Honorary Fellowship inrecognition of Gautam's 'exceptional achievements in the fields of industry and philanthropy'.
