Neeraj Kanwar

Kanwar was educated at St. Columba's School, Delhi and thereafter, graduated in engineering from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, US.{{cite news|title=I live for today, not tomorrow|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/archive/i-live-for-today-not-tomorrow/345589/|accessdate=27 September 2017|work=The Financial Express|date=7 August 2008}}

Kanwar started his career with a training stint at American Express Bank in New York City. He thereafter returned to India and started Global Finance Ltd, a non-bank financial institution which shut after three years. In 1985, Kanwar became the third generation of his family to join Apollo Tyres, which was launched by his grandfather Raunaq Singh and later taken over by his father Onkar Kanwar. His first position in the company was in the sales team.

In 2002, Kanwar took over daily operations from his father.{{cite news|title=Apollo Tyres' quest for a global grip |url=http://www.forbesindia.com/article/northen-giants/apollo-tyres-quest-for-a-global-grip/44429/1|accessdate=27 September 2017|work=Forbes India|date=12 October 2016}} Kanwar is the force behind Apollo's international acquisitions. When the company announced its acquisition of Dunlop Tyres, South Africa in 2006, it simultaneously announced Kanwar's elevation as the company's Managing Director.{{cite news|title=Apollo buys Dunlop, S.Africa|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-business/apollo-buys-dunlop-safrica/article3247148.ece|accessdate=27 September 2017|work=The Hindu|date=31 January 2006|language=en-IN}} The company later sold most of its South African operations to Sumitomo Rubber Industries in 2013, retaining one plant in Durban.{{cite news|title=Apollo Tyres sells South African business to Sumitomo Rubber for Rs 340 crore|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tyres/apollo-tyres-sells-south-african-business-to-sumitomo-rubber-for-rs-340-crore/articleshow/20333060.cms?intenttarget=no|accessdate=27 September 2017|work=The Economic Times|date=30 May 2013}}

In 2009, under the aegis of Kanwar, Apollo bought out Vredestein Banden in the Netherlands, thus giving the company a foothold in Europe. Apollo bought Reifencom GmbH in Germany in 2015, giving it access to distribution channels across Europe.{{cite news|title=Focus on growth, R&D shaping Apollo's journey, says Vice Chairman and MD Neeraj Kanwar|url=http://www.businesstoday.in/opinion/interviews/focus-on-growth-rd-shaping-apollo-journey-says-vice-chairman-and-md-neeraj-kanwar/story/251320.html|accessdate=27 September 2017|work=www.businesstoday.in|date=2 May 2017}} After a failed takeover attempt of Cooper Tires in 2013, Kanwar decided to focus on organic growth by investing in new greenfield facilities in Chennai, India and Budapest, Hungary.{{cite news|last1=Mitra|first1=Moinak|title=Apollo Tyres MD Neeraj Kanwar plans to make it a global player|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/corporate-dossier/apollo-tyres-md-neeraj-kanwar-plans-to-make-it-a-global-player/articleshow/47628069.cms|accessdate=27 September 2017|work=The Economic Times|date=12 June 2015}} The Hungary plant was inaugurated in 2017.{{cite news|last1=SK|first1=Lokeshwarri|title='Hungary welcomed us with smile and sops'|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/hungary-welcomed-us-with-smile-and-sops/article9634508.ece|accessdate=27 September 2017|work=The Hindu Business Line|date=12 April 2017|language=en}}

In partnership with Amit Burman (vice chairman of Dabur), Kanwar bought an Italian restaurant called Scalini in London in 2014.{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/lunch-with-bs-amit-burman-114042600155_1.html|title=Lunch with BS: Amit Burman|last1=Bhandari|first1=Bhupesh|date=25 April 2014|work=Business Standard India|accessdate=27 September 2017}} Kanwar and Burman met during their University days in Pennsylvania and remained friends. Apart from his business activities, Kanwar serves as the vice chairman of the British Asian Trust in India, a charity founded by Prince Charles.{{cite news|url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/salaam-bombay-to-salaam-britain/204305|title=Salaam Bombay to Salaam Britain|last1=Roy|first1=Amit|date=15 March 2013|work=mid-day|accessdate=27 September 2017|language=en}}

Neeraj Kanwar is the second son of Onkar Kanwar and has an elder brother, Raaja Kanwar. He married Simran Kanwar and they have two children, son Jai Karan and daughter Sayra Taru. In 2013, he relocated to London to focus on the attempted buyout of Cooper Tires. Though the deal did not work out, Kanwar settled in London to focus on Apollo's international operations and better manage its international investors.{{cite news|last1=Mukherjee|first1=Sharmistha|title=Promoters of Indian auto companies relocating to grow their brands on the international stage|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/auto/news/industry/promoters-of-indian-auto-companies-relocating-to-grow-their-brands-on-the-international-stage/articleshow/51465024.cms|accessdate=27 September 2017|work=The Economic Times|date=19 March 2016}} Kanwar resides in London's Mayfair neighbourhood.{{cite web|url=http://courtnewsuk.co.uk/high-end-burglars-court/|title=High-end 'burglars' in court - Court News UK|author=|date=|website=courtnewsuk.co.uk|accessdate=4 October 2017}}{{cite news|title=Apollo Tyres turns its back on China|url=https://www.ft.com/content/b29a93f6-8e73-11e3-98c6-00144feab7de|accessdate=4 October 2017|work=Financial Times|date=6 February 2014}}

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Category:Living people

Category:1971 births

Category:Businesspeople from Delhi