Name Azim Premji

Born on 24 July 1945

Place of Birth Mumbai, India

Educated from Stanford University

Works for Wipro

Valued at US $ 16.8 billion

Position CEO

Married to Yasmeen

Azim Premji

Early life

Azim Premji, a man of brilliance is the CEO of WIPRO, one of the largest software companies in India. According to Forbes he was the richest man in the country from 1999 to 2005.He over the years has emerged as the 'tech king' of the country.

He was born on 24th July 1945 in Mumbai. His father MH Hasham Premji owned the Western India Products, which made hydrogenated vegetable oils and fats.

Azim Premji did his schooling from St. Mary’s School I.C.S.E. at Mazagaon, Mumbai. Premji had to leave his studies in electrical engineering from Stanford University, California, USA at the age of 21 to handle the family business when his father suddenly died in 1966. At that time MH Hasham Premji's net worth was estimated to be $2 million.

Premji eventually sought and received permission to study an arts course by correspondence to complete the requirements for his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.

Family

Azim Premji is married to Yasmeen. The couple has two children, Rishad and Tariq. Rishad is married to Aditi and is currently the Chief Strategy Officer of IT Business, Wipro Technologies.

WIPRO -Company Profile

WIPRO was initially known as Western India Vegetable Products Ltd, and was started by Mr.M.H Premji. The company manufactured vegetable oil, vegetable ghee and laundry soap.

In 1966, upon the sudden demise of M.H. Premji, his son, Mr. Azim Hasham Premji, a 21-year-old student of engineering at Stanford University, had to takeover his father's business. He worked very hard to diversify and expand, WIPRO. The business diversified into fluid power, soaps, toiletries, lighting and baby care products, and distribution was considerably expanded.

The Infotech era began in the late seventies and WIPRO set up its IT business in Bangalore in 1980. WIPRO became the No.1 listed company in the country in just 15 years. In

reorganization, the firm went public with WIPRO Technologies, the global IT services subsidiary, whose gross income grew by 65 percent to reach ` 1042 crore ($240 million).WIPRO'S technology divisions, global R&D and telecom solutions contributed 46 percent of the software revenue, and the balance was accounted for by enterprise solutions business. E-commerce contributed 15 percent of enterprise solutions revenue for the year. Sales and other incomes of the second division, Wipro InfoTech, the Indian IT services and products business that takes care of networking solutions, customer services, computers and peripherals, grew by 20 percent to ` 825 crore.

Financial status

Azim Premji transformed WIPRO ltd (western India products ltd) from a vegetable-oils maker into a robust IT company, which is ranked 3rd amongst India's computer service providing companies.

He took over his father's business at the age of 21; after he joined WIPRO he slowly and steadily entered into other product lines such as ethnic ingredient based toiletries, hair care soaps, lightning products and hydraulic cylinders. Thereafter he shifted his focus from soaps to software. In the 1980's WIPRO entered into the technology field. Since his immigration into his father's business he has transformed a US $2million company into a global technology group with $2.5 billion in sales.

Premji is a very simple man with a frugal lifestyle who flies economy class and prefers staying in company guest houses rather than luxury hotels.

Achievements and Awards

Achievements

1. He is the second richest man in India. 2. Transformed WIPRO from vegetable-oils company to a large software giant. 3. In the year 2001, Premji established the Azim Premji Foundation, a not-for-profit organization

with a Vision of significantly contributing to quality primary education for every child, in order to build a fair, equitable, humane & sustainable society.

4. Member of Prime Minister's Committee for trade and industry in India. 5. He has made WIPRO the biggest BPO service provider in India.

Awards

1. Premji was honored with the Business Man Of The Year award in 2000 by Business India and Business Leader of the year in 2004 by Economic Times.

2. Time listed him in April 2004 as one amongst the 100 most influential persons in the world. 3. He was named by Fortune in August 2003 as one of the 25 most powerful business leaders

outside the US. Also in 2003 listed him as one of the ten people globally who have the “power to effect change” .Business Week in October 2003 featured him on their cover with the sobriquet “India's Tech King”

4. Government of India awarded him the Padambhushana. 5. In 2005 he became the first Indian recipient of the Faraday Medal. Wesleyan University,

USA, Indian Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Aligarh University and Visveswaraya Technological University have all presented him with honorary doctorates, while XLRI, Jamshedpur has conferred the Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal for Industrial and Social Peace. In 2000, the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers conferred its highest honor - the Honorary Fellowship. The US-India Business Council has honored him with the “Global Vision” award.

Biggest Philanthropist of India

Azim Premji Foundation is a not-for-profit organization formed 9 years ago and is funded single handedly by him. It is established with a vision to contribute to systemic changes in Indian education that facilitates a just, equitable, humane and sustainable society. Active since 2001, the Foundation has engaged with over 2.5 million children in 20,000 schools across 13 States through a dedicated workforce of over 250 professionals and hundreds of paid volunteers Premji is amongst those rare breeds of Asian entrepreneurs who put their wealth for philanthropic use.

Azim premji “MY LESSONS IN LIFE”

The first thing I have learnt is that we must always begin with our strengths. The second lesson I have learnt is that a Rupee earned is of far more value then five found. The third lesson I have learnt is that no one bats a hundred every time. Life has many

challenges. You win some and lose some. You must enjoy winning. The fourth lesson I have learnt is the importance of humility. The fifth lesson I learnt is that we must always strive for excellence. The sixth lesson I have learnt is never give up in the face of adversity. The seven lesson I have learnt is that while you must be open to change, & do not

compromise on your values. And the final lesson learnt is that we must have faith in our own ideas even if everyone tells

us that we are wrong.

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