Gopichand Hinduja, Chairman of Hinduja Group and Pillar of Indo-UK Business Ties, Passes Away at 85 in London
Gopichand Hinduja took over the influential business family's second generation as head of London-headquartered multinational Hinduja Group in May 2023 after the death of his elder brother Srichand P Hinduja.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) November 4: Gopichand P Hinduja, the chairman of the Hinduja Group and one of Britain’s wealthiest men, has died in London at 85. Affectionately called “GP” in global business circles, Hinduja had been unwell for several weeks and died in a London hospital, the sources said.
He is survived by his wife, Sunita; two sons, Sanjay and Dheeraj; and a daughter, Rita.
Tributes Pour In
Ranger, a member of the British House of Lords, released a condolence statement.
“Dear friends, with a heavy heart, I share with you the tragic loss of our beloved friend, Mr GP Hinduja, who has departed for his heavenly abode. He was one of the most gracious, humble, and loyal friends. His passing marks the end of an era, as he was truly a well-wisher of the community and a guiding force.
I had the privilege of knowing him over many years; his qualities were unique—a tremendous sense of humour, commitment to the community and country, India—and he always supported good causes. He has left a huge vacuum behind that will be difficult to fill. May he rest in peace in heaven. Om Shanti.”
Major Business Milestones
His tenure saw the Group diversifying into banking and finance, energy, automobile, media and infrastructure in a bid to expand its business operations. Two of its most significant acquisitions were made under his watch — that of Gulf Oil in 1984 and Ashok Leyland in 1987, the latter being one of the earliest big-ticket investments by non-resident Indians (NRIs) into India.
During his tenure, the group ventured into diverse sectors such as banking and finance, energy, automobiles, media and infrastructure.
Champion of India-UK Economic Relations
Gopichand P. Hinduja was a vocal proponent of closer India-U. K. economic interests and lobbied through frequent speeches in London that businesses should invest in the booming Indian market.
He was given a series of honours over the years, including a lifetime achievement accolade for his contributions to business and industry at the Lokmat Global Economic Convention in August.
Gopichand Hinduja, the Senior Member of the famous business empire having lived long in London looking after global operations, his younger brother Prakash Hinduja in Monaco; and the youngest Ashok Hinduja handling business back home from bustling cosmopolitan city Mumbai.
Philanthropy and Community Impact
For decades, Gopichand Hinduja had been seen as the firm hand that safeguarded the family’ business integrity and philanthropy. Those who knew him often said he was disciplined and understated, deeply committed to tradition but also interested in pushing the envelope.
His death signals the completion of an era for the Hinduja Group, one of powerful and best-respected business families bridging India and Britain.
Roots of a Global Empire
The Hinduja Group was established in 1919 when Parmanand Deepchand Hinduja moved from Sindh (now in Pakistan) to Iran where he began trading as a merchant.
In 1979, the family subsequently relocated from Iran to London, thus laying the foundations of its global trajectory. Today, the Mumbai-based group employs roughly 200,000 people across the world and does business in over a dozen industries.
The family business conglomerate spans 48 countries in the automotive, oil and speciality chemicals, banking and finance, IT and cybersecurity, healthcare, trading infrastructure project development, media & entertainment power real estate.
