Rajen A. Kilachand

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Rajen A. Kilachand
Residence Dubai, United Arab Emirates[1]
Nationality Indian
Ethnicity Gujarati
Alma mater Boston University
Occupation Chairman and President of Dodsal Group
Net worth IncreaseUS$ 900 million (2011)[2]
Spouse(s) Nina Kilachand
Children 3
Website
www.dodsal.com/aboutus/chairmans-message.shtml
www.dodsal.com/philanthropy/

Rajen Arvind Kilachand is a leading business magnate and the Chairman and President of UAE-based Dodsal Group,[3] a multibillion dollar enterprise. A global entrepreneur, his business encompasses mining in Tanzania to Pizza Hut franchises in India.[4][5] From its inception in 1948, the group now has a turnover in billions and employs more than 25,000 employees in 22 countries around the world.[6]

Early life and education

Rajen Kilachand is the son of Arvind Nandlal Kilachand and Chandanben Arvind Kilachand. The Kilachand family was, originally from Patan in Gujarat, After his father’s untimely death, he took over Dodsal – a company that was founded in 1948 by the Nandlal Kilachand family along with a British trading company. While the Kilachand family, originally from Patan, Gujarat enjoyed an aristocratic status during the British Raj,[7] it was Rajen Kilachand who took his family name to the next level as he transformed his family business into a transnational multibillion conglomerate.

Kilachand holds a Masters degree from the Boston University Graduate School of Management.[8]

Career

Rajen Kilachand is the Chairman and President of Dodsal Group, a company with multidimensional businesses operating across the globe employing a diverse workforce. The Group operates five main business divisions – Trading & Distribution; Engineering, Procurement & Construction; Exploration & Production; Casual Dining Restaurants; and Manufacturing. Dodsal has successfully completed projects across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, the Indian Subcontinent and South-East Asia.

Under Kilachand’s leadership the firm continues to grow with plans to take explore new opportunities, which include manufacturing equipment in India for the nuclear, space and defence sectors; horticulture and floriculture; franchising more restaurants and developing its own chain of fine dining and quick service restaurants.[9]

Board Memberships

Rajen Kilachand is the Chairman & President of the Dodsal Group.[9] He is a trustee and a member of the Board of Management of the Bhatia General Hospital in Mumbai, India. He is also the trustee of the Shree Somnath Temple Trust in Gujarat, India.[2]

Kilachand was also the former director of Federal Mogul Goetz India Limited, during his tenure from 1997 until 2006, along with a place on the Board of Directors of Pathfinder International.[10][11]

Philanthropy

Rajen Kilachand has not only achieved great success in business but has also gained great respect due to his various philanthropic activities in India, UAE, USA, Europe and Africa.[9] His latest contributions is the endowment of US$ 25 million to the Arvind and Chandan Kilachand Honors College to Boston University. The donation is the largest in Boston University’s history. The Kilachand College delivers a liberal arts curriculum with a focus on innovation.[8]

Rajen Kilachand has supported rural development, educational institutions, community aid and humanitarian missions, and women's empowerment organisations around the world, emphasising his passion for helping to achieve sustainable development.[9] Over the years, he supported various organisations such as the Cherie Blair Foundation, the Children’s Hope Foundation, the Oman Charitable Organisation, the Paraplegic Association in India, the Women’s Cancer Centre at Tata Memorial Centre, India, Grant Medical College and the North Gujarat University.[9]

A long time philanthropist, Kilachand who serves on the board of Pathfinder International helps in various global activities on reproductive health, family planning, and HIV/AIDS prevention and care in over 25 countries.[11] He also supports Dubai Cares, an initiative of H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai and vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates that aims to educate over one million children in impoverished countries.[8]

Over the years, Rajen Kilachand has made a personal commitment of more than US$ 50 million to philanthropic initiatives in health care and vocational training and education, including building libraries and teacher training institutions including Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre, Dubai Autism Centre, the Al Noor Centre for Children with Special Needs, Grant Medical College and the North Gujarat University.[9]

Rajen Kilachand is the only foreign sponsor of the New Orleans Jazz Festival,[8] along with funding various music and art festivals as well as community theatres including the Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre, the Majlis Gallery in Dubai, the Met in New York City, the Capital Jazz Festival and the Pune Festival.[12]

He also supports various corporate and law and order initiatives, including the Asian Business Leadership Forum Awards,[13] the India-UAE Knowledge Forum,[14] the IPLOCA Conventions, the Arab Strategy Forum, the India-Arab World Business Summit and Police & the Union, UAE.[12]

Awards and Recognition

The Dodsal Group is recognised as one of the leading players in the engineering and construction business, having received numerous awards for safety and zero LTI project execution.[15] Apart from the group’s achievements, Rajen Kilachand has won various awards that honour his contributions to business and society.

  • Global Business Achievement Award at the Masala Awards 2011
  • Ranked 14th most influential Indian in the Gulf [16]

References

  1. ↑ "Boston University alumnus donates $25m to the institute". The National. 9 October 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2012. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Revealed: Indian Rich List 2011". Arabian Business. 
  3. ↑ "Chairman's CV". Dodsal Group. 
  4. ↑ Attwood, Edward (1 November 2011). "Pipeline king". Arabian Business. 
  5. ↑ "Rajen Kilachand endows $25 mn to Boston University". The Economic Times. IANS. 26 Sep 2011. 
  6. ↑ "Dodsal Group and Atomenergomash sign MoU to manufacture nuclear power equipment". Zawya. 12 April 2011. 
  7. ↑ "India Kanoon release". IndianKanoon.org. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "Philanthropist & Visionary Business Leader Rajen Kilachand Pledges $25 Million to BU". Boston: Boston University. 22 September 2011. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 "Dodsal.com". Dodsal Group. 
  10. ↑ "Rajen Kilachand: Executive Profile & Biography". Bloomberg Businessweek. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "About Us: Board of Directors". Pathfinder International. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Dodsal Philanthropy". Dodsal Group. 
  13. ↑ "ABLF Awards - The Supporters". Asian Business Leadership Forum Awards. 
  14. ↑ "The Indian Expressions Event presented by the Rajen A. Kilachand Foundation rolled out yesterday evening at the Emirates Palace Hotel with panache". Zawya. 25 May 2010. 
  15. ↑ "HSE, Quality & Security". Dodsal Group. 
  16. ↑ "Indian Power List 2011". Arabian Business. 16 October 2011. 

External links

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