Rahul Bajaj - Business Maharaja
RAHUL BAJAJ - A Business Maharaja
* Rahul Bajaj is an Executive Chairman and Head of Bajaj Group of companies of Bajaj Auto Ltd, Bajaj Group was started by Jamnalal Bajaj.
* The Bajaj Group diversified their businesses to automobiles, home appliances, lighting, iron and steel, insurance, travel and finance.
* Rahul Bajaj has one brother - Shishir Bajaj; he is married to Rupa Bajaj; and they have two sons - Rajiv and Sanjiv (who manages his company) and one daughter - Sunaina Kejriwal.
* He completed his schooling from Cathedral and John Connon School, Mumbai; his further studies from St. Stephens College, Delhi and Harvard University, U.S.A; and took control of Bajaj Group in 1965.
* Rahul Bajaj served as Managing Director of Bajaj Holdings & Investment Limited (EARLIER Bajaj Auto Ltd) until March 31, 2005.
* He is a Deputy General Manager of Bajaj Tempo Limited and Chairman of the Board of Bajaj Finserv Ltd., Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co., and Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Co. Ltd.
* He has been Chairman of Bajaj Auto Finance Ltd since July 26, 1972; and Non-Executive Chairman of Bajaj Holdings & Investment Limited since February 20, 2008. He was as Executive Director of Bajaj Holdings & Investment Limited until February 2008.
* Mr. Bajaj was a Non-executive Chairman of Maharashtra Scooters Ltd., until October 18, 2006; he was a Chairman and Director of Mukand Ltd. until July 2007; he has also been Director of Bajaj Auto Finance Ltd since July 26, 1972.
* He is a Member of Governing Board of Indian School of Business.
* Till October 18, 2006 he was a Non-executive Director of Maharashtra Scooters Ltd.
* He is a Member of International Advisory Committee of NYSE Euronext, Inc. (Formerly New York Stock Exchange, Inc.), and is a President of Confederation of Indian Industry.
* He was also a President of Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (MCCIA) and a Chairman of the Development Council for Automobiles and Allied Industries.
* He was a Chairman of the Government owned domestic carrier, Indian Airlines from 1986 to 1989 and also a Co-Chairman of the Board of Commonwealth Business Council.
* He was elected to the Upper House of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) in June 2006 from Maharashtra.
* On 12th May, 2003 he was nominated by the President of India as the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai.
* He was the Chairman of the International Business Council of the World Economic Forum, Geneva.
* After the downfall in 2001, he started a factory in Chakan; invested in R&D and then introduced Bajaj Pulsar Motorcycle, which is currently one of the Leaders in its sector.
* Under his dynamic Leadership his company has risen from Rs. 72 million to Rs. 46.16 billion and he started manufacturing units at Akurdi and Waluj.
* He was listed twentieth on the Forbes "Indias richest 40" list of people with a net worth of US$1.1 Billion.
* In 1975, he received the "Man of the Year" award from National Institute of Quality Assurance; he was awarded as "Businessman of the year 1985" by Business India; in 1988, he was recognised for his achievements by Pune Municipal Corporation and in 1990 he was rewarded by Bombay Management Association for his service in the field of Management.
* He was awarded Indias one of the most prestigious award "Padma Bhushan" in 2001.
* His success mantra in life is, "Do whatever you think best, but be best at whatever you do".
Rupal Jain, Lecturer, Atharva Institute of Management Studies (Mumbai), and I can be reached at jainrupal@sify.com.
