Biography of Azim Premji

Department of Mechanical Engineering

1

Azim Premji



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


Biography of Azim Premji

Department of Mechanical Engineering
2

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. Marys School I.C.S.E. at
Mazagaon, Mumbai. Premji had to leave his studies in electrical engineering
fromStanford 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 bachelors 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.


Biography of Azim Premji

Department of Mechanical Engineering
3

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.
Biography of Azim Premji

Department of Mechanical Engineering
4

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.

Biography of Azim Premji

Department of Mechanical Engineering
5

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.
Biography of Azim Premji

Department of Mechanical Engineering
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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.



Biography of Azim Premji

Department of Mechanical Engineering
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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.








Biography of Azim Premji

Department of Mechanical Engineering
8

Contents
Azim Premji ........................................................................... 1
Early life ................................................................................... 2
Family ...................................................................................... 2
WIPRO -Company Profile ......................................................... 3
Financial status ........................................................................ 4
Achievements and Awards ...................................................... 5
Achievements ....................................................................... 5
Awards .................................................................................. 5
Biggest Philanthropist of India ................................................. 6
Azim premji MY LESSONS IN LIFE ......................................... 7