Who Is Anand Mahindra?
Anand Mahindra is the Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, the flagship company of the Mahindra Group. Mahindra Group is one of the top 10 most reputed industrial houses of India.
This famous group was founded in Ludhiana (Punjab) by Anand’s grandfather’s brothers Jagdishchandra and Kailashchandra Mahindra (KC Mahindra).
As a result of Anand Mahindra’s efficiency, vehicles like Mahindra Tractor, Bolero, XUV500, and Mahindra Scorpio have become the identity of ‘Mahindra Udyog Group’ in many countries of the world including India.
The group also has significant participation in financial services, tourism, infrastructure development, trade, and logistics sectors, which is increasing day by day.
He is currently a member of the Asia-Pacific Advisory Board of the prestigious ‘Harvard Business School’, Member of the Advisory Committee to the Deans of Harvard Business School, Member of the Asia Business Council, Member of the Executive Council of the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF), Government of India.
He is also a member of the National Council of the Center for Applied Economic Research and the Governing Board of the National Institute of Bank Management, Pune.
Early Life
Anand Mahindra was born on May 1, 1955, in Mumbai, Maharashtra in a well-known and affluent business family. His father’s name was Harish Mahindra and his mother’s name was Indira Mahindra.
In the year 1977, he received his graduation from the ‘Department of Visual and Environmental Studies, Harvard College (Cambridge, Massachusetts), USA.
In the year 1981, he received his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School (HBS), Boston, Massachusetts. Later he was married to Anuradha Mahindra, with whom he has two daughters.
Wife Anuradha is the editor of the famous magazines ‘Verve’ and ‘Men’s World’ and the editor-in-chief of ‘Rolling Stone India’.
Contribution In The Field Of Auto/Motor Business
After completing his MBA, Anand Mahindra returned to India in the year 1981 and took his first assignment as Executive Assistant to the Director of Finance at Mahindra Eugene Steel Company (MUSCO).
When Mahindra & Mahindra Group expanded in 1989, Anand Mahindra became the chairman of the unit associated with ‘Real State Development and Hospitality’.
In 1991, he was assigned the task of Deputy General Manager of the “Mahindra & Mahindra” group. He took the responsibility as the Managing Director of the company in the year 1997 and after that, he was made the Vice President of the company in the year 2003.
Apart from this, he became the co-promoter of ‘Kotak Mahindra Finance Limited’ and in the year 2003, he converted it into a bank. Presently Kotak Mahindra Bank also maintains its credible position among the leading private sector banks of India.
All this was done under the able management and leadership of Anand Mahindra. As a result, Mahindra Group has successfully set certain benchmarks to achieve global objectives and successes. In the year 2002, Mahindra & Mahindra Group launched a new model of the car (SUV) developed on indigenous technology named ‘Scorpio’.
Which has played a positive role in making the company stand out on a global scale. Thus the company grew significantly through both acquisitions and greenfield businesses. Mahindra also acquired Satyam Computer Services in 2009 and Reva Electric Vehicles and SsangYong Motor Company in 2010.
He established ‘Mahindra Systems and Automotive Technology’ to identify the company in a new and different field, which is now providing new modules and better engineering services to the company. Apart from this, the company has also worked on the strategic acquisition of industrial institutions in the UK and China.
He has set up three assembling plants in the United States of America and has also established joint ventures with international companies such as Renault, Nissan, and International Truck and Engine Corporation, USA.
Contribution To Industry Organizations
Anand also served as the Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry in the year 2003-2004 and also served as the Chairman of the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI).
He is the co-founder of the Harvard Business School Association of India, an organization dedicated to the advancement of professional management in India. He is also the co-chair of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Anand has been selected as Director of the category of ‘General Representative’ of ‘National Stock Exchange of India Limited.’ Besides this, ‘K. Mahindra Education Trust, which provides scholarships to deserving students.’ He also contributes to the Board of Governors of Mahindra United World College in India.
Contribution To Education And Other Fields
Anand Mahindra has donated $100 million to Harvard University in the name of his mother Indira Mahindra to expand the activities of the Humanities Center there.
Anand has given this huge amount under the leadership of the director of Homi Bhabha Humanities Center for the advancement and modernization of the specialized institutions located there.
He is the founder president of ‘Mumbai Festival’ which started in the year 2005. Apart from this, he is also the co-chair of the ‘International Council of Asia Societies’, New York.
Awards and Honors
- Anand Mahendra was awarded the Special Order of Merit by the President of France in 2004 and has also been honored with the Rajiv Gandhi Award for his outstanding contribution to the business. Also got the Padma Bhushan award in January 2020.
- In 2005, he was awarded the Automotive Monitor Personality of the Year and Leadership Award from the American India Foundation to the Mahindra & Mahindra Group for his commitments to social responsibility in the corporate world.
- In 2006, he was named CNBC Asia Business Leader and Entrepreneur of the Year by the Ludhiana Management Association. In the same sequence, in 2007, the NDTV Profit program honored him with the honor of “The Most Inspiring Company Leader of the Year”.
- He was also awarded the “Economic Times Award” as a business leader in the year 2008-2009. Recently, Anand was selected by ‘Daily News and Analysis as one of the most influential men and women in Mumbai.
- Its “Agricultural Equipment Sector” was awarded the “Japanese Quality Medal”. It is the only tractor company in the world to have this honor. It is also the only company in the world to have won the Deming Award.
Leave a Reply