Anand Mahindra (1 May 1955) is a billionaire businessman and the chair of Mumbai-based conglomerate – Mahindra Group.
Early Life
He was born on 1 May 1955, in Mumbai, India. His father, Harish Mahindra, was an industrialist, and his mother, Indira Mahindra, was a housewife. His early education was completed at Lawrence School, Lovedale. After finishing high school, he went to Harvard University to study filmmaking and architecture. In 1977, he graduated with magna cum laude. He also earned his MBA in 1981 from the Harvard Business School.
Career
Anand began his career as an Executive Assistant to the Finance Director at Mahindra Ugine Steel Company Limited (MUSCO). He eventually became the company’s President and Deputy Managing Director.
In 1991, he became the Deputy Managing Director of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., then the Managing Director, and ultimately Vice-Chairperson. Its products include off-road vehicles and agricultural tractors.
In August 2012, he succeeded his uncle Keshub Mahindra as Chairman of the board and Managing Director of the Mahindra Group. Four years later, he was re-designated as the Executive Chairman of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd and continued as the Chairman of Mahindra Group. He was responsible for expanding the Mahindra Group’s business into new areas of real estate development and hospitality management.
He was a co-promoter of Kotak Mahindra Bank until 2013 when he was removed from the role. However, he continued to serve as a non-executive director.
In 2014, Pro Kabaddi League was launched by Anand Mahindra with the help of his brother-in-law and sports commentator Charu Sharma.
He along with Mukesh Ambani, and Mahesh Samat co-founded EPIC, an Indian television channel, in 2014. Two years later, Ambani and Samat sold their stakes to Anand Mahindra.
He is the founder of the project Nanhi Kali which aims to provide primary education to underprivileged girls in India. As of September 2017, the project has supported 130,000 underprivileged girls.
He is also the chairman and one of the board of directors of Naandi Foundation, an Indian charitable trust that works towards the socio-economic development of India.
Awards
In 2004, he was awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Award for outstanding contribution in the business field.
He was also awarded the Leadership Award in 2005, Business Leader Award for the year award in 2006, and the Harvard Business School Alumni Achievement Award in 2008.
In 2020, he received the Padma Bhushan Award, the third Highest civilian award in India.
Read More; 30 April in Indian and World History