Anand Gopal Mahindra (born 1 May 1955) is an Indian billionaire businessman, and the chairman of

Mahindra Group Mahindra Group is an Indian multinational conglomerate, headquartered in Mumbai. The group has operations in over 100 countries, with a presence in aerospace, agribusiness, aftermarket automotive components, construction equipment, defenc ...

, a Mumbai-based business conglomerate. The group operates in aerospace, agribusiness, aftermarket, automotive, components, construction equipment, defence, energy, farm equipment, finance and insurance, industrial equipment, information technology, leisure and hospitality, logistics, real estate and retail. Mahindra is the grandson of

Jagdish Chandra Mahindra Jagdish Chandra Mahindra commonly referred as J. C. Mahindra (c 1892–1951) was an Indian industrialist and co-founder of Mahindra & Mahindra in 1945, with Kailash Chandra Mahindra and Malik Ghulam Mohammed. Herdeck, p. 209 He is the ...

, co-founder of

Mahindra & Mahindra Mahindra & Mahindra Limited (M&M) is an Indian multinational automotive manufacturing corporation headquartered in Mumbai. It was established in 1945 as Mahindra & Mohammed and later renamed as Mahindra & Mahindra. Part of the Mahindra Group, ...

. As of January 2020, his net worth is estimated to be $1.6 billion. He is an alumnus of

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...

and

Harvard Business School Harvard Business School (HBS) is the graduate business school of Harvard University, a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. It is consistently ranked among the top business schools in the world and offers a large full-time MBA p ...

. In 1996, he established Nanhi Kali, a non-government organisation that supports education for underprivileged girls in India. He is included by

Fortune Magazine ''Fortune'' is an American multinational business magazine headquartered in New York City. It is published by Fortune Media Group Holdings, owned by Thai businessman Chatchaval Jiaravanon. The publication was founded by Henry Luce in 1929. The ...

among the 'World's 50 Greatest Leaders'. and was in the magazine's 2011 listing of Asia's 25 most powerful businesspeople. Anand was noted by

Forbes (India) ''Forbes India'' is the Indian edition of ''Forbes'' which is managed by Reliance Industries-owned media conglomerate, Network 18. History and profile Since its founding in 2008, ''Forbes India'' has achieved a circulation of 50,000 copies and ma ...

as their 'Entrepreneur of the Year' for 2013. He was given the

Padma Bhushan The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "distinguished service ...

Award, the third Highest civilian award in India, in January 2020.

Early life

Anand Mahindra was born on 1 May 1955 in Bombay, India to the late industrialist Harish Mahindra and Indira Mahindra. Anand has two sisters; Anuja Sharma and Radhika Nath. He completed his early schooling from Lawrence School, Lovedale and then went on to study film making and architecture from

where he graduated magna cum laude in 1977. In 1981, he completed his MBA from the

Career

In 1981, Anand joined Mahindra Ugine Steel Company Ltd (MUSCO) as an Executive Assistant to the Finance Director. In 1989 he was appointed as President and Deputy Managing Director of the MUSCO. he initiated the Mahindra Group's diversification into the new business areas of real estate development and hospitality management. On 4 April 1991, he took the role of Deputy Managing Director of

Ltd., a producer of off-road vehicles and agricultural tractors in India. In April 1997, Anand was appointed as the Managing Director and then in 2001 as the Vice Chairman of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. In August 2012, he took on the role of Chairman of the board and Managing Director of the Mahindra Group from his uncle,

Keshub Mahindra Keshub Mahindra (born 9 October 1923) is an Indian businessman, and the chairman emeritus of the Mahindra Group. He retired as chairman in August 2012 after heading the Group for nearly five decades, handing over the position to his nephew, Anan ...

. In November 2016, Anand was re-designated as Executive Chairman of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd and continued to be the Chairman of

. Anand was a co-promoter of

Kotak Mahindra Bank Kotak may refer to: * Kotak (band), an Indonesian rock band * Kotak (surname), surname and people who bear it * Kotak Mahindra Bank, an Indian financial service firm * Kotak Securities, subsidiary of Kotak Mahindra Bank * Kotak, Iran (disambiguation ...

(formally known as Kotak Mahindra Finance Ltd,.) In 2013, he ceased to be a promoter and stayed on as a non-executive director. Today, the

is a US$19 billion organisation, and one of India's top 10 industrial houses. Anand Mahindra has been tagged as the face of Indian capitalism by

The Economist ''The Economist'' is a British weekly newspaper printed in demitab format and published digitally. It focuses on current affairs, international business, politics, technology, and culture. Based in London, the newspaper is owned by The Econo ...

. Forbes India Magazine has recognised him as their 'Entrepreneur of the Year' for the year 2013.

Beyond Mahindra

In April 2014, Anand became a member of the board of U.S.–India Business Council (USIBC). He helps promote the policy advocacy priorities of USIBC and advises members and senior USIBC staff. In 2011, Anand was invited to join the International Advisory Council of Singapore's Economic Development Board. He is the Chairman of the India Advisory Council at the

Lincoln Center Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (also simply known as Lincoln Center) is a complex of buildings in the Lincoln Square neighborhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It has thirty indoor and outdoor facilities and is host to 5 millio ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

. In January 2015, he was appointed on a four-year team as a Trustee of the

Natural History Museum A natural history museum or museum of natural history is a scientific institution with natural history collections that include current and historical records of animals, plants, fungi, ecosystems, geology, paleontology, climatology, and more. ...

of London. An avid advocate of using 'design for human happiness', Anand is the chairman, Governing Council National Institute of Design and President, India Design Council. In 2014, Anand Mahindra with his brother-in-law and sports commentator,

Charu Sharma Charu Sharma is an Indian commentator, compere and quizmaster. He is the director of the Pro Kabaddi League. He was the CEO of the Royal Challengers Bangalore cricket team for the 2008 Indian Premier League but was forced to leave due to the ...

, launched Pro Kabaddi League, a professional-level

kabaddi Kabaddi is a contact team sport. Played between two teams of seven players, the objective of the game is for a single player on offence, referred to as a "raider", to run into the opposing team's half of the court, touch out as many of their ...

league in India. Anand, along with

Mukesh Ambani Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani (born 19 April 1957) is an Indian billionaire businessman. He is the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL), a Fortune Global 500 company and India's most valuable company by market value. Acco ...

and Mahesh Samat, was the co-founder EPIC, an Indian television channel in 2014 that showcases Hindi content. In 2016, he became the sole owner after both the co-founders sold their stakes to Mahindra. Anand was featured in Fortune Magazine's list of The World's 50 Greatest Leaders in 2014 and in the list of the top 25 most powerful business people in Asia in 2011. He was the World Economic Forum co-chairman in 2009. He was one of the contributors for the book 'Reimagining India' published by Mckinsey & Company. In 2003, he was elected as the president of the Confederation of Indian Industry.

Other boards and committees

Anand also serves on: * Harvard Business School – Asia–Pacific Advisory Board * Harvard University Asia Centre – Advisory Committee * Harvard Global Advisory Council * Asia Business Council * Global Board of Advisers of the Council on Foreign Relations * World Bank Group's Advisory Board for Doing Business

Honors and awards

Over the years, Anand has received several recognitions including: * Rajiv Gandhi Award for outstanding contribution in the business field – 2004 * Knight of the Order of Merit’ by the President of the French Republic – 2004 * Leadership Award – American India Foundation – 2005 * Business Leader Award for the year award – CNBC Asia – 2006 * Harvard Business School Alumni Achievement Award – 2008 * Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year India award – 2009 * Business India Businessman of the Year award – 2007 * Business Leader of the Year – The Asian Awards – 2011 * Global Leadership Award – US-India Business Council – 2012 * Best Transformational Leader Award – Asian Centre For Corporate Governance & Sustainability – 2012 * Entrepreneur for the Year – Forbes India Leadership Awards – 2013 * Sustainable Development Leadership Award – The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) – 2014 * Business Today CEO of the Year - 2014 * ‘Social Media Person of the Year’ by the Internet and Mobile Association of India - 2016 * ‘Disruptor Personality of the Year Award’ by Bloomberg TV India - 2016 * Harvard Medal - Harvard Alumni Association - 2014 * Chevalier de l’Ordre national la Légion d’Honneur - French Republic - 2016 * Top 30 CEOs worldwide - Barron's List - 2016

Personal life

Anand married Anuradha, who was a journalist and later launched the magazine,

Verve Verve may refer to: Music * The Verve, an English rock band * ''The Verve E.P.'', a 1992 EP by The Verve * ''Verve'' (R. Stevie Moore album) * Verve Records, an American jazz record label Businesses * Verve Coffee Roasters, an American coffee ho ...

. She is currently the editor of magazines Verve and Man's World. They have two daughters, Divya and Aalika. Anand has a keen interest in film making, a subject he pursued as an undergraduate at Harvard. He is a keen photographer with a strong interest in films. He also enjoys listening to the blues and has set up Mahindra Blues Festival held annually in

Mumbai Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...

since 2011. Anand promotes arts & culture and has set up an awards platform named Mahindra Excellence in Theater Awards and the Mahindra Sanatkada Lucknow Festival, a crafts exhibition and performing arts event held annually in

Lucknow Lucknow (, ) is the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and it is also the second largest urban agglomeration in Uttar Pradesh. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of the eponymous district and division ...

Charity

Anand is an advocate of the study of

humanities Humanities are academic disciplines that study aspects of human society and culture. In the Renaissance, the term contrasted with divinity and referred to what is now called classics, the main area of secular study in universities at the t ...

as he believes it can help address various problems in the world that arise due to interdependency. He donated $10 million to support the Harvard Humanities Center. In recognition of this donation, the center was renamed to Mahindra Humanities Center at Harvard. He is the founder of 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. Anand is also the chairman-for-life and one of the board of directors of Naandi Foundation, an Indian charitable trust that works towards the socio-economic development of India.

References

External links

CNN on Anand

Anand Mahindra Business India's Business Man of the Year 2007

Anand on CNN Talk Asia

Building a Knowledge Economy on Growth
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahindra, Anand Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in trade and industry 1955 births Living people Businesspeople from Mumbai People in the automobile industry Mahindra Group Harvard Business School alumni Formula E team owners Indian billionaires Harvard University alumni