Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Biography of Azim Premji
Azim Premji, born Azim Hashim Premji on July 24, 1945, is an Indian business tycoon, investor, and philanthropist. He is best known as the chairman of Wipro Limited, one of India's largest IT services and consulting companies. Here's a detailed biography of Azim Premji:
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| Biography of Azim Premji |
Early Life and Education:
Azim Premji was born in Bombay (now Mumbai), India, into a wealthy business family. His father, Muhammad Hashim Premji, was a prominent entrepreneur and the founder of Western Indian Vegetable Products Ltd., a company dealing in vegetable products and refined oils. After completing his schooling at St. Mary's School in Mumbai, Azim went on to study engineering at Stanford University in the United States. However, due to the untimely death of his father in 1966, he had to cut short his education and return to India to take over the family business.
Leadership of Wipro:
Upon his return, Azim Premji took charge of his family's business, Western Indian Vegetable Products Ltd., which later became Wipro Limited. Under his leadership, Wipro transitioned from a small hydrogenated oil company to a global IT services powerhouse. He diversified the company's focus, leading it into the information technology sector in the 1980s.
Azim Premji's strategic decisions and business acumen transformed Wipro into one of the leading IT companies in India. He emphasized innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction, driving the company's growth and success.
Philanthropy and Social Initiatives of Azim Premji:
In 2001, Azim Premji founded the Azim Premji Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving education in rural India. The foundation works towards enhancing the quality of education in government schools and provides teacher training programs. Premji has been deeply involved in philanthropy and has pledged a significant portion of his wealth to charitable causes.
Awards and Recognitions:
Azim Premji's contributions to the business and philanthropic sectors have earned him numerous awards and accolades. He was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by TIME magazine multiple times. He has also received honors such as the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan, two of India's highest civilian awards.
Azim Premji's Retirement and Legacy:
In July 2019, Azim Premji announced his retirement as the chairman of Wipro Limited, passing the baton to his son, Rishad Premji. His leadership and dedication to social causes have left an indelible mark on the corporate and philanthropic landscapes of India. Azim Premji is widely regarded as one of the most influential and respected business leaders in the country, and his legacy continues through the ongoing work of the Azim Premji Foundation and his contributions to education and social development in India.