Harsh Mariwala

Mariwala's grandfather, Vallabhdas Vasanji migrated to Mumbai (then Bombay) from Kutch in 1862. Vasanji became known as "Mariwala" as he was dealing in pepper, which is known as mari in Gujarati. Mariwala's father Charandas founded Bombay Oil Industries Limited in 1948 along with three of his brothers which manufactured and traded in spices, oils and chemicals.{{cite book |last1=Mukherjea |first1=Saurabh |title=The Unusual Billionaires |date=2016 |publisher=Penguin UK |isbn=9789386057679 |pages=30–57 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UL3BDAAAQBAJ |access-date=19 May 2018 |language=en}}

Mariwala was brought up in South Mumbai educated at Sydenham College in Mumbai and joined the family enterprise in 1971. He started the consumer products business of the company in 1975 and took its two major brands, Parachute coconut oil and Saffola refined oil to the next level.{{cite news|last1=Pinto|first1=Viveat Susan|title=The man who changed the game at Marico|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/the-man-who-changed-the-game-at-marico-114041001382_1.html|access-date=19 May 2018|work=Business Standard India|date=10 April 2014}} Innovations such as smaller packaging and use of plastic bottles in place of metal tins along with focus on advertising, marketing, human resources, and distribution helped establish the two brands as market leaders in their respective categories.

At Bombay Oil Mills, Mariwala had limited autonomy as management responsibilities were shared amongst the family members. Moreover, he saw the firm as a business to business venture more than the business to consumer venture he envisaged. Therefore, he decided to start Marico as a separate entity. Mariwala initially found it difficult to recruit talented employees given that their office was then located in the crowded market area of Masjid Bunder, hence he held interviews at the Royal Willingdon Sports Club and later moved the Marico office to a more accessible area, Bandra.{{cite book |last1=Bhasin |first1=Sonu |title=The Inheritors: Stories of Entrepreneurship and Success |date=2017 |publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited |isbn=9789386815958 |pages=312 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f7E4DwAAQBAJ |access-date=19 May 2018 |language=en}} Along with focus on innovation and investing in brand building, Mariwala focused on establishing a company culture to empower employees and values such as trust to establish it as a force to reckon with.{{cite book|last1=Piramal|first1=Aparna|title=Working Out of the Box: 40 stories of Leading CEOs|date=2015|publisher=Random House India |isbn=9788184007367 |pages=256 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qMiUCgAAQBAJ |access-date=19 May 2018 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Harsh Mariwala, Ajay Piramal stress on right values and culture to attract millennials |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/company/corporate-trends/harsh-mariwala-ajay-piramal-stress-on-right-values-and-culture-to-attract-millennials/articleshow/60805412.cms |access-date=19 May 2018 |work=The Economic Times |date=23 September 2017}}

In the late 1990s Marico made its first serious entry into markets outside India by setting up a manufacturing plant in Bangladesh. Thereafter, the company has set up or acquired other consumer brands businesses in several countries.{{cite book |title=India's Global Powerhouses: How They Are Taking on the World |last=Kumar |first=Nirmalya |author-link=Nirmalya Kumar |year=2009 |publisher=Harvard Business Press |isbn=9781422129463 |pages=136–8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=itqkCifrcjUC}} The company has built a portfolio of brands in the hair care, skin care, edible oils, health foods, male grooming, and fabric care space. Its major brands include Saffola, Parachute, Hair & Care, Nihar, Livon, Set Wet, Mediker and Revive.{{cite news|last1=Sheth|first1=Neha|title=Optical Marico|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/outlookmoney/investment-ideas/optical-marico-2090|access-date=20 May 2018|work=Outlook India|date=10 August 2017|language=en}}

Harsh Mariwala took Marico public with an initial public offering in 1996. In India, Marico bought the hair care brand Nihar from Hindustan Unilever in 2006 and personal care brands Set Wet, Livon and Zatak from Reckitt Benckiser in 2016.

In 2003, Mariwala spotted an opportunity in the skin care clinics space and founded [https://www.kaya.in/ Kaya Clinic] as a subsidiary of Marico. In 2013, when Kaya was demerged from Marico and listed on stock exchanges as a separate entity it had 107 skincare clinics out of which 82 were located in India and had a range of 54 skin care products in its portfolio.{{cite news|last1=Chatterjee|first1=Purvita|title=Why Marico shed its Kaya skin|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/Why-Marico-shed-its-Kaya-skin/article20576526.ece|access-date=19 May 2018|work=The Hindu Business Line|date=10 February 2013|language=en}}

In 2014, Mariwala decided to step down as Managing Director whilst continuing to serve as Chairman.{{cite news|last1=Agarwal|first1=Sapna|title=Marico CEO Saugata Gupta takes over MD role|url=https://www.livemint.com/Companies/P2GXjjvmClyaNOwCXdk75K/Marico-CEO-Saugata-Gupta-takes-over-MD-role.html|access-date=19 May 2018|work=Live Mint|date=25 March 2014}} Mariwala brought in professional leadership to replace him in the company and his focus since has been on strategic direction and board management at Marico.{{cite news|last1=Agarwal|first1=Sapna|title=What will the Marico of tomorrow look like?|url=https://www.livemint.com/Home-Page/OaOMrsQUmA4rRdJM2SHmkL/What-will-the-Marico-of-tomorrow-look-like.html|access-date=19 May 2018|work=Live Mint|date=19 September 2016}}

Mariwala founded the Marico Innovation Foundation (MIF) in 2003 which is the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of Marico.{{cite news|title=The 6th edition of Innovation for India Awards 2016 recognizes 6 unique innovations in the business and social sector {{!}} Free Press Journal|url=http://www.freepressjournal.in/press-release/the-6th-edition-of-innovation-for-india-awards-2016-recognizes-6-unique-innovations-in-the-business-and-social-sector/806004|access-date=20 May 2018|work=Free Press Journal|date=17 March 2016}} It aims to uplift start-ups through mentoring and providing them an ecosystem of research, knowledge creation and dissemination. MIF hosts the MIF Awards, a biennial event where innovations across Indian business industry and social causes are picked by a jury.{{cite news|title=11 shortlisted for Marico innovation awards|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/11-shortlisted-for-marico-innovation-awards/article23117524.ece|access-date=20 May 2018|work=The Hindu Business Line|date=19 March 2014|language=en}} In 2014, Mariwala founded the Mariwala Health Initiative (MHI) and is focused on supporting mental health issues.{{cite news |last1=Mishra |first1=Lalatendu |date=16 December 2017 |title=Mariwala commits to fund mental health projects |url=http://www.thehindu.com/business/mariwala-commits-to-fund-mental-health-projects/article21823182.ece |access-date=19 May 2018 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN}}

In 2012, he set up [https://ascentfoundation.in/ ASCENT Foundation] as a peer learning platform for entrepreneurs to exchange insights, experiences and ideas in a confidential environment. As of 2024, ASCENT has over 1000 member entrepreneurs.{{cite news|last1=Deuskar|first1=Nachiket|title=Marico founder Harsh Mariwala to entrepreneurs: Learn to let go as you grow|url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/marico-founder-harsh-mariwala-to-entrepreneurs-learn-to-let-go-as-you-grow-2428205.html|access-date=19 May 2018|work=Moneycontrol|date=3 November 2017}} The annual revenue of ASCENT members crosses Rs.1,00,000 crore. The vision for ASCENT is to build a widespread ecosystem across cities that significantly impacts and nurtures 10,000 leaders on their journey to success.

• 2009: 2009: Ernst & Young 'Entrepreneur of the Year' Award.{{cite web |title=Anand Mahindra wins E&Y “Entrepreneur of the Year” award 2009. |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/anand-mahindra-wins-e-y-entrepreneur-of-the-year-award-2009-110021700042_1.html |website=bsindia |access-date=February 25, 2023}}
• 2020: Ernst & Young World ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ Award.{{cite web |last1=Thakur |first1=Arnika |title=Harsh Mariwala is EY Entrepreneur of the Year. |url=https://www.fortuneindia.com/people/harsh-mariwala-is-ey-entrepreneur-of-the-year/105336 |website=Fortune India |access-date=February 25, 2023}}
• 2022: AIMA Life Time Achievement Award.{{cite web |title=Entrepreneurs to take country to higher growth, prosperity: Marico chairman Harsh Mariwala. |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/company/corporate-trends/entrepreneurs-to-take-country-to-higher-growth-prosperity-marico-chairman-harsh-mariwala/articleshow/89726807.cms |website=Economic Times |access-date=February 25, 2023}}

Mariwala has set up a family office, Sharrp Ventures, which is headed by his son Rishabh. The venture invests in listed and unlisted companies. As of 2017, it had invested in eight unlisted equities, five funds and one incubator at the seed, Series A or Series B stage.{{cite news|last1=Kotecha|first1=Arushi|title=Rishabh Mariwala: No churn, but beating Nifty is a goal|url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/kyLDlU0St1ZdBhSZsFeUCI/Rishabh-Mariwala-No-churn-but-beating-Nifty-is-a-goal.html|access-date=19 May 2018|work=Live Mint|date=15 September 2017}}

Harsh Mariwala is married to Archana and they have two children. His son Rishabh runs his venture Soap Opera n More, manages the family office Sharrp Ventures and is a non-executive director at Marico.

Mariwala is a committed vegetarian by birth and is also a fitness enthusiast. He works out at gymnasium daily and plays golf on weekends.{{cite news|last1=Saxena|first1=Aditi|title=Gymming, golf and small meals: Secret of Marico’s Harsh Mariwala's fitness|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/gymming-golf-and-small-meals-secret-of-maricos-harsh-mariwalas-fitness/articleshow/33848658.cms|access-date=19 May 2018|work=The Economic Times|date=17 April 2014}} He is also known to be fond of playing squash, swimming, and trekking.{{cite news |last1=Rebello |first1=Maleeva |title=Harsh Mariwala, Marico Chairman, has a new interest: fencing |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/harshmariwala-marico-chairman-has-a-new-interest-fencing/articleshow/55700390.cms |access-date=20 May 2018 |work=The Economic Times |date=30 November 2016}}

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Category:Living people

Category:Businesspeople from Mumbai

Category:Indian billionaires

Category:Indian chairpersons of corporations

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Gujarati businesspeople

Category:Businesspeople from Gujarat