Adar Poonawalla

2021-08-21T14:12:28Z

2409:4061:498:554C:8472:4AB0:F603:C770:

{{short description|Indian businessman}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Adar Poonawalla
| image = Adar poonawalla and Cyrus Poonawalla at the 4th Asian Awards.jpg
| image_size =
| alt = Adar Poonawalla and Cyrus Poonawalla at the 4th Asian Awards
| caption = Adar Poonawalla (on left) and Cyrus Poonawalla at the 4th Asian Awards
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|01|14|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| citizenship = Indian
| education = [[The Bishop's School (Pune)]]<br>[[St Edmund's School Canterbury]]
| alma_mater = [[University of Westminster]]
| occupation =
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| title = CEO, [[Serum Institute of India]] <br />
Chairman, [[Magma Fincorp]]
| term = 2011{{endash}}present
| predecessor =
| successor =
| boards =
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Natasha Poonawalla]]|2006}}<ref name="m">{{Cite web |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/farm-fatale-when-billionaire-adar-poonawalas-glamourouswife-natasha-posed-with-a-horse/articleshow/55107485.cms |title=Farm fatale: When billionaire Adar Poonawala's glamourouswife Natasha posed with a horse! |date=2016-10-28 |website=The Economic Times |access-date=2018-12-13}}</ref>
| children = 2
| father = [[Cyrus Poonawalla]]
| website = {{URL|http://www.adarpoonawalla.com/}}
}}

'''Adar Poonawalla''' (born 14 January 1981) is the chief executive officer (CEO) of [[Serum Institute of India]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2020-covid-vaccine-serum-india/|title=The Real Vaccine Billionaires of India Maharashtra|via=www.bloomberg.com}}</ref> Founded in 1966 by his father, [[Cyrus Poonawalla]], it is the world's largest vaccine manufacturer by number of doses produced.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Narayan|first1=Adi|title=Billionaire-Led Indian Drugmaker's Vaccine Beats Glaxo in Study|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-06-16/billionaire-led-drugmaker-s-50-cent-vaccine-beats-glaxo-s-version-in-study|accessdate=2 September 2015|publisher=Bloomberg Business|date=15 June 2011}}</ref>

== Education ==
Adar Poonawalla was educated at [[The Bishop's School (Pune)]] and at the [[St Edmund's School Canterbury]] followed by the [[University of Westminster]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Westminster alumnus-led vaccine manufacturer set to play leading role in large scale production of coronavirus vaccine {{!}} University of Westminster, London|url=https://www.westminster.ac.uk/news/westminster-alumnus-led-vaccine-manufacturer-set-to-play-leading-role-in-large-scale-production-of|access-date=2020-09-13|website=www.westminster.ac.uk}}</ref>

== Career ==
Poonawalla joined the Serum Institute of India in 2001 after graduating from university. Then exporting its products to 35 countries, Poonawalla concentrated on the company's international market, new products license and getting pre-qualified by the [[World Health Organization]] for supply to United Nations Agencies including [[UNICEF]] and [[PAHO]]. As of 2015, he has helped the company export its products to over 140 countries; 85 percent of its revenues are from overseas.<ref name="Reclusive Billionaire">{{cite news|last1=Dangor|first1=Kimi|title=The private tycoons|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/the-poonawallas-meet-indias-most-reclusive-billionaires/1/193596.html|accessdate=2 September 2015|work=India Today|date=6 June 2005}}</ref><ref name="economictimes-Adar">{{cite web|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-04-11/news/49058750_1_father-and-son-serum-institute-race-horses|title=How Cyrus Poonawalla's son, Adar Poonawalla is boldly changing course of the family business|date=11 April 2014|accessdate=13 August 2015|work=The Economic Times}}</ref>

In 2011, he became the CEO. In 2012, he played a major role in the acquisition of Bilthoven Biologicals, a Netherlands-based government vaccine manufacturing company.<ref name="hindubusiness-1">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/serum-acquires-dutch-firm-bilthoven-for-over-rs-550-crore/article3602989.ece|title=Serum acquires Dutch firm Bilthoven for over Rs. 550 crore|date=4 July 2012|accessdate=20 August 2015|work=Business Line}}</ref><ref name="ndtvprofit">{{cite web|url=http://profit.ndtv.com/news/corporates/article-serum-institute-of-india-buys-dutch-vaccine-maker-for-40-3-mn-307343|title=Serum Institute of India buys Dutch vaccine maker for $40.3 mn|date=4 July 2012|accessdate=20 August 2015|publisher=NDTV Profit}}</ref> Poonawalla is a board member of the [[GAVI]] Alliance, the global vaccine alliance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gavi.org/our-alliance/governance|title=Governance|website=www.gavi.org}}</ref>

He initiated and launched in 2014; Serum Institute's oral polio vaccine, which became a bestseller for the company. It was reported that he planned to expand the product portfolio to include vaccines for dengue, flu and cervical cancer during the same year.<ref name="economictimes-Adar"/>
Presently he is the CEO of Serum Institute of India.

On the 31st of May 2021, he was appointed as the chairman of [[Magma Fincorp]], after acquiring a 66% stake in the financial services company.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gopakumar |first1=Gopika |title=Adar Poonawalla appointed as chairman of Magma Fincorp |url=https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/adar-poonawalla-appointed-as-chairman-of-magma-fincorp-11622467050826.html |work=mint |date=2021-05-31 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Karmali|first=Naazneen|title=India’s 10 Richest Billionaires 2021|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/naazneenkarmali/2021/04/06/indias-10-richest-billionaires-2021/|access-date=2021-07-23|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref>

== Threats demanding COVID-19 vaccines ==
In an interview with ‘[[The Times]]’, Poonawalla declared that he left India for [[London]] because of threats demanding COVID-19 vaccines.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qz.com/india/2004105/serums-adar-poonawalla-has-left-india-amid-a-raging-pandemic/|title=India’s vaccine czar has left the country for the UK due to “unprecedented” threats|first=Manavi|last=Kapur|website=Quartz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/getting-aggressive-calls-from-powerful-people-serum-ceo-adar-poonawalla-on-vaccine-pressure/articleshow/82344844.cms|title='Getting aggressive calls from powerful people': Serum CEO Adar Poonawalla on vaccine pressure | India News - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref> Poonawalla also said that he will start Covid vaccine production outside India in addition to the ongoing production in India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/serum-chief-flies-to-uk-to-escape-threats-from-cms-corporates-biggies/cid/1814249|title=Serum chief flies to UK to escape 'threats' from CMs, corporates biggies|website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/companies/people/everything-falls-on-my-shoulders-sii-ceo-adar-poonawalla-on-vaccine-pressure-in-india-11619874494149.html|title='Everything falls on my shoulders': Adar Poonawalla on vaccine pressure in India|date=1 May 2021|website=mint}}</ref> He was provided with [[Security categories in India|‘Y’ category security]] by the [[Indian government]] as the threats were made public.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/centre-grants-y-category-security-to-serum-institute-ceo-adar-poonawalla-amid-threats-over-covishield-supplies/story/437817.html|title=Centre grants Y category security to Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla amid threats over Covishield supplies|website=www.businesstoday.in}}</ref>

==Awards==

* In 2016, he was listed by [[GQ Magazine]] and awarded Philanthropist of the year.<ref name="GQ India">{{cite web|url=https://www.gqindia.com/content/gq-awards-men-of-the-year/#philanthropist|title=GQ Awards Men of the Year – Philanthropist |accessdate=27 September 2016| publisher= GQ India}}</ref>
* In 2017, he received Humanitarian Endeavour Award In Hall of Fame Awards 2017<ref name="Hall of Fame">{{cite web|url=https://www.bizasialive.com/hello-hall-fame-awards-winners|title= Got Humanitarian Endeavour Award|accessdate=28 March 2017| publisher= Biz Asia}}</ref> and was also awarded as Indian of the Year in CSR Business Category on [[CNN-News18]]<ref name="CNN News 18">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTU-NgclamE|title= Adar Poonawalla is Indian of the Year in CSR Business Category |accessdate=30 November 2017| publisher= CNN News 18}}</ref>
* In 2018, Chief Minister [[Devendra Fadnavis]] presented the ET Edge Maharashtra Achievers Awards of Business Leader of the Year to Poonawala,<ref name="Economic Times">{{cite web|url=https://www.femina.in/achievers/winners-of-the-maharashtra-achievers-awards-2018_-80283-1.html|title= CM Devendra Fadnavis presents the Business Leader of the Year Award to Adar Poonawala |accessdate=27 February 2018| publisher= Femina}}</ref> he further received CNBC Asia's award for Corporate Social Responsibility in the same year<ref name="CNBC-TV18">{{cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Companies/zrl1ZbxlzOhQHFQheN64cM/What-drives-Indias-top-business-leaders.html|title= Adar Poonawalla received the CNBC Asia's award for Corporate Social Responsibility of the year |accessdate=7 April 2018| publisher= Livemint}}</ref>
* In 2020, Adar was included in a [[Fortune (magazine)|''Fortune'' magazine's]] '[[40 Under 40]]' listing in the healthcare category.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Adar Poonawalla {{!}} 2020 40 under 40 in Health|url=https://fortune.com/40-under-40/2020/adar-poonawalla/|access-date=2020-09-13|website=Fortune|language=en}}</ref>
*In 2021, Adar has been adjudged Entrepreneur of the Year by Economic Times for unparalleled contribution in fighting Covid-19 by successfully supplying huge quantities of Covishield in India and globally, a vaccine developed by Oxford-AstraZeneca and produced in India by Serum Institute.<ref>{{cite news |title=ET Awards: Adar Poonawalla, doing India proud with a small jab, and a big gamble |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/company/corporate-trends/adar-poonawalla-doing-india-proud-with-a-small-jab-and-a-big-gamble/articleshow/80741701.cms?utm_source%3Dtwitter_web%26utm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_campaign%3Dsocialsharebuttons |work=The Economic Times |date=8 February 2021}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.adarpoonawalla.com Official website]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Poonawalla, Adar}}
[[Category:1981 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People educated at St Edmund's School, Canterbury]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Westminster]]
[[Category:Indian billionaires]]
[[Category:Indian chief executives]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Pune]]
[[Category:Indian businesspeople in the pharmaceutical industry]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian businesspeople]]

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Adar Poonawalla