Tej Lalvani
{{short description|British businessman}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Tej Lalvani
| image = Tej Lalvani (cropped).jpg
| caption = Lalvani in 2018
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|07|13|df=yes}}{{cite web|title=MR TEJ LALVANI director information. Free director information. Director id 911707603|url=https://companycheck.co.uk/director/911707603/MR-TEJ-LALVANI/summary|website=Company Check|accessdate=23 August 2017}}
| birth_place =
| notable_works =
| known_for = Dragons' Den (2017–2021)
| education = University of Westminster
| occupation = Businessman
| title = CEO, Vitabiotics
| spouse = {{marriage|Tara Ruby|2011}}
| children =
| parents = Kartar Lalvani (father)
| family = Gulu Lalvani (uncle)
Dino Lalvani (cousin)
| website = {{URL|http://www.tejlalvani.com}}
}}
Tej Lalvani (born 13 July 1974) is a British businessman and the CEO of the UK's largest vitamin company Vitabiotics, founded by his father Kartar Lalvani. He is best known for being one of the "Dragons" on the BBC television series Dragons' Den from 2017 to 2021.
Early life and business career
Lalvani grew up in Bangalore, Karnataka, Southern India, and spent his childhood between India and the United Kingdom before settling in London when he was 16. He graduated with a bachelor's degree from Westminster Business School at the University of Westminster in 1996,{{cite web |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-interview-dragons-den-star-tej-lalvani-is-aiming-to-slay-rivals-in-vitamin-market-a4167641.html |title=Dragons' Den star Tej Lalvani is aiming to slay rivals in vitamin market |date=14 June 2019 |publisher=Evening Standard |accessdate=1 November 2019 }} and started his career working in the warehouse of his father's company Vitabiotics, before succeeding him as CEO.{{cite news|title=Dragons' Den: Who are new Dragons Jenny Campbell and Tej Lalvani?|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/dragons-den-new-dragons-jenny-campbell-tej-lalvani/|website=The Telegraph|date=17 August 2017 |accessdate=23 August 2017}}
Along with his wife, Lalvani runs a property investment business in London.{{cite web|title=Biography|url=http://www.tejlalvani.com/about|website=www.tejlalvani.com|accessdate=23 August 2017|language=en}}
In 2012, Lalvani was named Young Entrepreneur at the Asian Business Awards as well as Young Entrepreneur of the Year by TiE in 2013.{{cite web|url=http://metro.co.uk/2017/08/20/who-is-tej-lalvani-the-new-dragon-on-dragons-den-6863670/|title=Who is Tej Lalvani? – the new businessman on Dragons' Den|last1=Mackrell|first1=Daniel|date=20 August 2017|website=Metro|accessdate=23 August 2017}} In October 2017, he ranked at number 48 on the GG2 Power List of the most influential Asian people in Britain.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2017/oct/26/riz-ahmed-climbs-asian-power-list-but-cant-topple-sadiq-khan|title=Riz Ahmed climbs Asian power list – but can't topple Sadiq Khan|first=Haroon|last=Siddique|date=26 October 2017|website=the Guardian|accessdate=15 January 2018}}
In November 2020, Lalvani was included on The Grocer's NPD Power List.{{Cite web |last=Tatum2020-11-20T10:36:00+00:00 |first=Megan |title=NPD Power List: who are the players pushing innovation through a pandemic |url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/power-list/npd-power-list-who-are-the-players-pushing-innovation-through-a-pandemic/650584.article |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=The Grocer |language=en}} He was awarded this based on his contribution to and innovation in the UK grocery industry during the pandemic.
Lalvani shares his business insight and experience across various social platforms - most notably, LinkedIn. In 2020, he was named one of LinkedIn’s ‘Top UK Voices’.{{Cite web |title=LinkedIn Top Voices 2020: UK Influencers |url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/linkedin-top-voices-2020-uk-influencers-emily-spaven |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=www.linkedin.com |language=en}}
In November 2021, the University of Westminster awarded him with an honorary doctorate.{{Cite web |title=University of Westminster awards Honorary Doctorate to acclaimed businessman Tej Lalvani |url=https://www.westminster.ac.uk/news/university-of-westminster-awards-honorary-doctorate-to-acclaimed-businessman-tej-lalvani |access-date=2022-03-11 |website=www.westminster.ac.uk |language=en}} In May 2022, the University of Westminster appointed Lalvani as a visiting professor at Westminster Business School.{{cite web |title=University of Westminster appoints acclaimed businessmen Tej Lalvani as Visiting Professor |url=https://www.westminster.ac.uk/news/university-of-westminster-appoints-acclaimed-businessmen-tej-lalvani-as-visiting-professor |website=www.westminster.ac.uk}}
''Dragons' Den''
Lalvani succeeded Nick Jenkins as the next "dragon" on Dragons' Den in 2017.{{Cite web |title=First look at new Dragons' Den line-up: entrepreneurs Jenny Campbell and Tej Lalvani join BBC2 show |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/first-look-at-new-dragons-den-line-up-entrepreneurs-jenny-campbell-and-tej-lalvani-join-bbc2-show/ |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=Radio Times |language=en}}
In January 2021, Lalvani announced his departure from the show to focus on the expansion of his business.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Tej Lalvani to leave Dragons Den|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/bbcstudios/2021/new-series-of-dragons-den-returns-to-bbc-this-spring|access-date=16 February 2021|website=www.bbc.co.uk}} Series 18, which was his final series, started in spring 2021.
Personal life
Lalvani is of Indian descent.{{cite web |title=How Dragons' Den's Tej Lalvani made his millions |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42169013.amp |website=BBC News |access-date=13 May 2021 |date=4 December 2017}} The Lalvani family is of Hindu and Sikh Sindhi heritage.{{cite news|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/341601/most-billionaires-in-india-today-once-resided-in-pakistans-sindh/|title=Most billionaires in India today once resided in Pakistan's Sindh|work=Daily Times|first=Waseem|last=Palijo|date=8 January 2019|accessdate=7 May 2020|archivedate=7 May 2020|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507172647/https://dailytimes.com.pk/341601/most-billionaires-in-india-today-once-resided-in-pakistans-sindh/}} In 2011, Lalvani married Tara Ruby in London.{{cite web|title=Footlights|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1110829/jsp/entertainment/story_14437516.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927034117/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110829/jsp/entertainment/story_14437516.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 September 2012|website=www.telegraphindia.com|accessdate=23 August 2017}} His mother is a former Miss India and a Miss World runner-up.
Lalvani lives in London and aside from his business interests, he composes music and plays drums, keyboard and guitar.{{cite web|last1=White|first1=Anna|title=Welcome to London's new luxury hotspot|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/11817032/Welcome-to-Londons-new-luxury-hotspot.html|website=Telegraph.co.uk|date=23 August 2015 |accessdate=23 August 2017|language=en}}
According to the Sunday Times Rich List in May 2019, he has a net worth of £390 million.{{Cite news |last=Times |first=The Sunday |date=12 May 2019 |title=Rich List 2019: profiles 301–348=, featuring Tim Martin and Simon Cowell |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/sunday-times-rich-list-2019-profiles-301-348-tim-martin-simon-cowell-l2q8d2zrq |access-date=4 July 2019 |newspaper=The Times |language=en |issn=0140-0460}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|8951462}}
- [http://www.tejlalvani.com/ Official website]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lalvani, Tej}}
Category:Alumni of the University of Westminster
Category:English businesspeople
Category:English television personalities
Category:English people of Sindhi descent
Category:English people of Indian descent
Category:British businesspeople of Indian descent