Adi Godrej, the 76-year-old patriarch of the 120-year-old Godrej Group, was recently felicitated with the most prestigious Lifetime Achievement recognition at the Economic Times Awards, 2018. Referring to his achievements as a “Rs 32,000-crore journey of business with integrity”, the jury celebrated his inspiring five-decade-long entrepreneurial journey, which begun with a turnover of Rs. 10 crore, which he built into a Rs. 32,000-crore conglomerate. The jury felt the award will be a fitting celebration of his achievements. Responding to the news, Adi Godrej, who is in the US, said he was “honoured”.

Padma Bhushan awardee Adi Godrej, whom Forbes in 2017 listed as the sixth-richest Indian with an estimated family wealth of $14.2 billion, joined the family business in 1963, after graduating from MIT Sloan School of Management in the US. In corporate India, he’s known as a man of integrity who follows the best practises in corporate governance.

Today, with multiple businesses such as consumer durables, real estate, furniture, chemicals, aerospace and animal feed, the Godrej Group enjoys the patronage of 110 crore consumers. The conglomerate is on track to meet its ‘2020 Vision’ to become a $10-billion entity. Under Adi Godrej, the group is active in philanthropic and social activities. About 23% of the promoter holding is in trusts that invest in environment, health and education. The group has a ‘Good & Green’ strategy to create a more inclusive and greener India.

Courtesy: Economic Times