Adi Godrej

Adi Burjorji Godrej
Born (1942-04-03) 3 April 1942 (age 82)
Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India
NationalityIndian
Alma materSt. Xavier's College, Mumbai
MIT Sloan School of Management
OccupationChairman of Godrej Group
SpouseParmeshwar Adi Godrej (died 2016)
ChildrenNisaba Adi Godrej
Pirojsha Adi Godrej
Tanya Arvind Dubash

Adi Burjorji Godrej (born 3 April 1942) is an Indian billionaire businessman and head of the Godrej family, chairman of the Godrej Group. As of August 2024, he has a net worth of US$3.8 billion.[1]

In October 2024, Adi and Nadir Godrej were ranked 21st on Forbes list of India’s 100 richest tycoons, with a net worth of $11.2 billion.[2]

Early life

Godrej completed his schooling at St. Xavier's High School[3] and then St. Xavier's College, Mumbai[3] for two years. He earned an undergraduate degree from HL College and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management, where he was a member of the Pi Lambda Phi fraternity[4] and a member of Tau Beta Pi.

Career

After his return to India, he joined the family business. He modernized the management structure, implemented process improvements and improved the company during the License Raj. He heads the group alongside his brother, managing director of Godrej Industries and chairman of Godrej Agrovet, Nadir Godrej, and his cousin, Godrej & Boyce managing director and chairman, Jamshyd Godrej.

In 2021 he announced his plans to step down as chairman of Godrej Industries, the holding company of the Godrej Group. He would continue as chairman of the Godrej Group and chairman emeritus of GIL.[5]

Godrej Consumer Products has grown into a strong emerging market FMCG player based on a 3X3 approach to international expansion — building a presence in three emerging markets (Asia, Africa, Latin America) across three categories (home care, personal wash, and hair care).[6]

Beyond Godrej

He has been president of several Indian trade and industrial bodies and associations.

He was the chairman of the Indian School of Business from April 2011 to April 2018[7] and was elected as the president of the Confederation of Indian Industry[8][9] (CII) for the year 2012–13. He has been a member of the dean's advisory council of the MIT Sloan School of Management, and chairman of the board of governors of the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies.[citation needed][10]

Twenty-five per cent of the shares of the Godrej holding company are held in trusts that include the Pirojsha Godrej Foundation, the Soonabai Pirojsha Godrej Foundation,[11] and the Godrej Memorial Trust. Through these trusts, the Group supports healthcare, education, and environmental sustainability initiatives such as The Mangroves,[12] Teach for India, WWF, and the Godrej Memorial Hospital.

Personal life

He was married to socialite and philanthropist Parmeshwar Godrej until her death in October 2016 and has three children. They live in Malabar Hill, South Mumbai.[1] For his contribution to the Indian industry Adi has been the recipient of several awards and recognitions including the Rajiv Gandhi Award 2002.

References

  1. ^ a b "Forbes profile: Adi Godrej". Forbes. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  2. ^ "India's 100 Richest". India’s 100 Richest. 9 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Home". xaviers.edu. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  4. ^ Pi Lambda Phi 2010 membership Directory
  5. ^ K, Vijayaraghavan (29 October 2021). "Godrej family looks to divide a $4.1 billion empire". Economic Times. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Godrej Consumer Products LTD" (PDF). Firstcall Research. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  7. ^ "Indian School of Business". Firstcall Research. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  8. ^ "CII elects Adi Godrej as new President". timesofindia-economictimes. Archived from the original on 19 July 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  9. ^ "CII elects Adi Godrej as new President". 18 April 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  10. ^ Sen, Meghna (13 August 2021). "Adi Godrej to step down from Godrej India board, Nadir Godrej to take over as Chairman". Mint. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Forbes India Magazine — The Godrej Foundation: In Charity They Trust". forbesindia.com. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  12. ^ "Godrej helps preserve Mumbai mangroves". www.sunday-guardian.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
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