M. P. Ahammed#Eham Digital
{{Short description|Indian businessman (born 1957)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = M. P. Ahammed
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1957|11|01}}
| birth_place = Kozhikode, Kerala, India
| nationality = Indian
| known_for = Chairman of Malabar Group of Companies
| occupation = Businessman
| spouse = K. P. Subaida
| children = 2
| years_active = 1991 – present
| website =
}}
M. P. Ahammed (born 1 November 1957) is an Indian businessman and the chairman of the Malabar Group of Companies. He is the founder of Malabar Gold & Diamonds, one of the world's largest retail jewellery groups.{{cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/slideshows/investments-markets/top-6-jewellers-who-control-indias-gold/slideshow/19827320.cms|title=Top Six Jewellers who control India's Gold.|work=Economic Times|first=|last=|date=3 May 2013}}
According to the Economic Times, in 2012 Malabar Gold and Diamonds made a turnover of ₹120 billion,{{cite web|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/slideshows/investments-markets/top-6-jewellers-who-control-indias-gold/malabar-gold-diamonds/slideshow/19827318.cms |title=Malabar Gold and Diamonds – One of top jewellers in India. |website=Indiatimes|date=2 May 2013}} and by the end of 2013, the company's turnover touched ₹220 billion.{{cite web|url=http://www.moneylife.in/article/malabar-gold-from-rs50-lakh-to-rs22000-crore-in-just-20-years/35475.html |title=Malabar Gold: From Rs 50 lakh to Rs 22,000 crore in just 20 years|website=|date= |access-date=8 January 2016}}
Early life and career
M. P. Ahammed was born on 1 November 1957 in Kozhikode, Kerala, to Mammad Kutty Hajee and Fathima. He completed his schooling at the Government High School in Kozhikode and later earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calicut.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-02 |title=Meet MP Ahammed, the owner of Malabar Gold and Diamonds; know how he started as a spice trader and worked hard to become the top gold retailer in the world |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/life/lifestyle-meet-mp-ahammed-the-owner-of-malabar-gold-and-diamonds-know-how-he-started-as-a-spice-trader-and-worked-hard-to-became-the-top-gold-retailer-in-the-world-3260231/?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-07-31 |title=From selling spices to building Rs 51,000 crore empire: Meet MP Ahammed, the man behind Malabar Gold and Diamonds |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/worth/news/from-selling-spices-to-building-rs-51000-crore-empire-meet-mp-ahammed-the-man-behind-malabar-gold-and-diamonds-639067.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Indiatimes |language=en-IN}}
At the age of 17, Ahammed ventured into business by establishing an agro-products firm. By 1981, he expanded into trading spices and copra.{{cite web |url=https://telanganatoday.com/malabar-gold-opens-new-store-at-himayath-nagar |title=Malabar Gold opens new store at Himayath Nagar |publisher=Telangana Today |date=28 January 2017}} In 1993, he founded Malabar Gold & Diamonds in Kozhikode, with an initial capital of ₹50 lakh. Under his leadership, the company has grown into one of the world's largest jewelry retailers, with over 340 showrooms across 13 countries.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-02 |title=Meet MP Ahammed, the owner of Malabar Gold and Diamonds; know how he started as a spice trader and worked hard to become the top gold retailer in the world |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/life/lifestyle-meet-mp-ahammed-the-owner-of-malabar-gold-and-diamonds-know-how-he-started-as-a-spice-trader-and-worked-hard-to-became-the-top-gold-retailer-in-the-world-3260231/?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Patwa |first=Priyadarshini |date=2020-03-30 |title=How This Brand Became One of the Top Gold and Jewellery Retailers Worldwide |url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/en-in/growth-strategies/how-this-brand-became-one-of-the-top-gold-and-jewellery/348383?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Entrepreneur |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-08-26 |title=Malabar Gold & Diamonds wins Responsible Jewellery House Award at India Gold Conference |url=https://www.thearabianstories.com/2024/08/26/malabar-gold-diamonds-wins-responsible-jewellery-house-award-at-india-gold-conference/?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=The Arabian Stories News |language=en-US}}
Philanthropy
Ahammed is involved in philanthropic initiatives through the Malabar Group, including the Hunger Free World project, which provides nutritious meals to those in need, and the Grandma Home initiative, which provides free accommodations for underprivileged women in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, with plans to expand to other major cities.{{Cite web |last=aash@aash.in |title=M P Ahammed - One of the most influential Indian Muslims 2024 |url=https://www.the100indianmuslims.com/a/M-P-Ahammed?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=the100indianmuslims.com |language=en}}
Personal life
Ahammed is married to K. P. Subaida. They have two children. His son Shamlal Ahammed is the company's managing director of international operations.{{cite web|url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/business/396056-going-for-gold|title=The Indian jewellery retailer that's now bigger than Tiffany's|date=8 May 2018}}