Anand Mahindra

Occupation: Chairman and Managing Director of Mahindra Group

Net worth: $1.2 billion (2015)

Anand Mahindra (born 1 May 1955) is the chairman and managing director of Mahindra Group. His grandfather JC Mahindra co-founded the company in Mumbai, India. Founded as a steel trading company, the Group today has a presence in multiple sectors from agribusiness to aerospace. It is considered to be one of the most reputed Indian industrial houses with market leadership in many business verticals including utility vehicles, tractors (world's largest tractor company by volume), after market (India's largest multi-brand pre-owned car company), finance (largest rural NBFC in India), Holidays (India's largest vacation ownership company) and IT (top 5 IT service provider).

Hailed as 'The Federator' by Forbes (India) Magazine, Anand Mahindra started his career at Mahindra Group with Mahindra Ugine Steel Company Ltd. as Executive Assistant to the Finance Director and in 1989, was appointed President and Deputy managing director of that company. During his stint at MUSCO, he initiated the Mahindra Group's diversification into the new business areas of real estate development and hospitality management and in August 2012, took over as chairman and managing director of the Mahindra Group from his uncle Keshub Mahindra

He is included by Fortune Magazine among the 'World's 50 Greatest Leaders' and featured in the magazine's 2011 listing of Asia's 25 most powerful business people. Anand has also been noted by Forbes (India) as their 'Entrepreneur of the Year' for 2013.

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

He is also a member of:

• Council and Executive Committee – National Sports Development Fund (NSDF)
• Government of India; Executive Committee – The Nehru Centre, Mumbai
• Empowered Committee on Mumbai Transformation; India Council for Sustainable Development
• Board of Trade, Government of India; National Council for Electric Mobility
• Committee for Reforming the Regulatory Environment for Doing Business in India

Social responsibility

Anand is a firm believer in power of education and has called it the "most privatisable of all social institutions". His father, Harish Mahindra, played a significant role in establishing the Mahindra United World College in Pune, Maharashtra, in 1997. MUWC is one of the 14 United World Colleges in the world. Anand is on the Board of Governors of the Mahindra United World College of India.

Anand is a staunch advocate of promoting girl child education and in 1996, founded Project Nanhi Kali, which provides sponsorship to underprivileged girls across India including, material support (e.g. school uniforms, school bag, shoes, socks, stationery etc.). He is also Trustee of the K.C. Mahindra Education Trust, which provides scholarships to students and supports the work of Project Nanhi Kali.

A student of the arts and culture, Anand believes that the study of humanities is essential in shaping leaders of the future. In November 2010, he donated $10million to support the Harvard Humanities Center in honour of his mother, Indira Mahindra. It is the largest gift for the study of humanities in Harvard's history. In recognition of this donation, the center was renamed the Mahindra Humanities Center at Harvard.

Anand is co-founder of Naandi Danone, which is the largest safe drinking water provider to rural areas of India, catering to nearly 3 million customers. Anand is also Chairman of the Board of Naandi Foundation. Founded in 1998, the Naandi Foundation works in 4 broad sectors: safe drinking water, support for urban school children, work training for unemployed youth and agricultural marketing.

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 Leader of the Year – The Asian Awards – 2011
• JRD Tata Corporate Leadership Award – All India Management Association – 2011
• Global Leadership Award – US-India Business Council – 2012
• Business Courage Award – Asia Business Leadership Forum – 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