Gopichand P Hinduja, Chairman of the Hinduja Group and Indian-origin billionaire, has passed away at age 85. Family sources confirmed to PTI that he died in a London hospital on Tuesday after a prolonged illness.
Key Takeaways
- Gopichand Hinduja, Hinduja Group Chairman, dies at 85 in London
- He was the eldest of the four Hinduja brothers and succeeded his brother Srichand as chairman
- Led transformation of family business into global conglomerate
- Spearheaded landmark acquisitions including Ashok Leyland
Known fondly as ‘GP’ in business circles, he is survived by his wife Sunita, sons Sanjay and Dheeraj, and daughter Rita. He belonged to the second generation of the Hinduja family and had taken over as chairman after his elder brother Srichand’s death in May 2023.
Education and Early Career
Gopichand graduated from Bombay’s Jai Hind College in 1959 and joined the family business in Mumbai the same year. He held honorary doctorates from the University of Westminster (Law) and Richmond College, London (Economics).
Business Leadership and Legacy
GP was instrumental in transforming the Hinduja Group from an Indo-Middle East trading operation into a multi-billion dollar transnational conglomerate. His business philosophy centered around “common sense” principles.
Under his leadership, the group made several strategic moves including the acquisition of Gulf Oil in 1984. The landmark acquisition of struggling automaker Ashok Leyland in 1987 marked the first major NRI investment in India at that time.
This acquisition not only revived Ashok Leyland but became one of the most successful corporate turnarounds in Indian history. He also led the group’s expansion into power and infrastructure sectors, shaping plans for multi-gigawatt energy generation capacity in India.
