Adi Godrej is a successful Indian businessman who is the head of the Godrej Group, a large family-owned company that operates in a variety of industries, including consumer goods, real estate, and chemicals. He is known for his business acumen, his commitment to sustainability, and his philanthropic work.

In simple words, Adi Godrej is a smart and successful businessman who is also a good person. He is working to make the world a better place by running a sustainable company and giving back to his community.

Early life

Godrej completed his schooling at St. Xavier's High School and then St. Xavier's College, Mumbai 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 and a member of Tau Beta Pi.

Career

After his return to India, he joined the family business. He modernised the management structure and implemented process improvements. Adi Godrej took the Godrej Group to great heights 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 Ltd, holding company of the Godrej Group. He would still serve as Chairman of the Godrej Group and Chairman-Emeritus of GIL.

Under his stewardship, 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, hair care).

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 and was elected as the president of the Confederation of Indian Industry (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]

Twenty-five percent of the shares of the Godrej holding company are held in trusts that include the Pirojsha Godrej Foundation, the Soonabai Pirojsha Godrej Foundation, and the Godrej Memorial Trust. Through these trusts the Group supports healthcare, education, and environmental sustainability initiatives such as The Mangroves, 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.

Philanthropy work

The  Godrej Group supports healthcare, education and environmental sustainability initiatives such as The Mangroves, Teach for India, WWF, Smile Train and the Godrej Memorial Hospital among others.
Godrej Group is a major supporter of the World Wildlife Fund in India, it has developed a green business campus in the Vikhroli township of Mumbai, which includes a 150-acre (0.61 km2) mangrove forest and a school for the children of company employees.

Awards

• Rajiv Gandhi Award, 2002.
• The American India Foundation (AIF) Leadership in Philanthropy Award, 2010.
• The Entrepreneur of the Year, Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards, 2010.
• Best Businessman of the Year, GQ Men of the Year Awards, 2010.
• AIMA-JRD Tata Corporate Leadership Award, 2010.
• Bombay Management Association — Management Man of the Year Award, 2010-2011.
• Qimpro Platinum Standard Award for Business, 2011.
• Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, 2012.
• Padma Bhushan, 2012.
• The Asian Awards Entrepreneur of the Year, 2013.
• All India Management Association-Business Leader of the Year, 2014.