Distinguished Alumni 2007: Habil Khorakiwala

Habil Khorakiwala

Habil Khorakiwala, Chairman of Wockhardt Group, has transformed Wockhardt into one of India's leading research-based global healthcare enterprises with relevance in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and as well as super speciality hospitals.

Under the dynamic leadership of Habil Khorakiwala, Wockhardt has grown to be amongst the top healthcare companies operating out of India employing more than 5500 people, spread over 14 nationalities, three research centres, 14 manufacturing plants, 14 offices worldwide and 8 super speciality hospitals. Today, Wockhardt has businesses ranging from the manufacture and marketing of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical formulations, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), vaccines, medical nutrition as well as animal health products. In addition, Wockhardt manages its own super speciality hospitals in the fields of cardiology, orthopaedics, brain & spine, kidney and other tertiary care.

Wockhardt has made many successful global acquisitions - CP Pharmaceuticals and Wallis in UK, Esparma GmbH in Germany, Pinewood Laboratories in Ireland and the most recent being Negma Laboratories in France. With the acquisition of Negma, Wockhardt becomes the first Indian company to acquire a research based European company with 172 patents. The acquisition of CP Pharmaceuticals catapulted Wockhardt into the No.1 Indian Pharmaceutical Company and one of the Top 10 Generic Pharmaceutical Companies in UK. With these acquisitions, Wockhardt becomes the largest Indian pharmaceutical company in Europe.

Wockhardt Hospitals, the group's healthcare delivery arm, an associate of Harvard Medical International USA operates 8 super-specialty hospitals in India with a total strength of around 1500 beds. Wockhardt Hospitals in Mumbai has received the coveted JCI approval - a global recognition.

Habil Khorakiwala holds a Masters Degree in Pharmaceutical Science from the Purdue University, USA and is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School.

Mr. Khorakiwala is the President of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), the premier Industry Association of India and has been the National Council member of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). He is the Past President of Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance, which is the industry association of the top 12 Indian Pharmaceutical companies.

He has been nominated by the Government in various Government bodies, and was a member of the National Managing committee of Indian Red Cross Society, has been a member of the Advisory Board of CSIR. He is a member of the National Manufacturing Competitive Council and also NIPER (National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research) set up by the Indian government.

For his contribution to Indian business and industry, Khorakiwala has received many prestigious awards such as The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for 2004 in the 'Healthcare and Life Sciences' category, the Giants International Award 2003 for Business and Industry.

Habil Khorakiwala is married to Nafisa, and has three children - Huzaifa, Murtaza and Zahabiya.