Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Industrialist and Philanthropist: Dr Manu Chandaria OBE EBS (Manilal Premchand Chandaria)


A man born on March 1, 1929 is defined by his business acumen and the urge to give back to the society. Through the joint family business that spans over 45 countries with interest in almost all-household commodities production, he’s truly a Captain of Industry. He’s chairman of the lucrative Comcraft Group which is a business that over 50 years grown to a $ 2.5 billion business empire.

After attending elementary and secondary school in Mombasa, he left for India. He started his engineering profession in Jamnagar India University, Bombay BSc 1949 before leaving for Oklahoma for BSc and masters in 1950. He has served as director of Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Ltd and chairperson of Kenya Association of Manufacturers.
Every day is a celebration. Now, you must believe in it. You cannot be believing in it and then you could be mourning. So I think that’s a philosophy.”
A quote from Manu Chandaria
He’s on the Boards of:
Mabati Rolling Mills Ltd Kaluworks Ltd Aluminum Africa Ltd (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania)
Uganda Baati Ltd (Kampala, Uganda)
He also sits on the Boards of:
Bank of India Advisory Committee in Nairobi (Chairman) Kenindia Assurance Co Ltd (Vice-Chair)
East Africa Reinsurance Co Ltd (Vice-Chair) University of Nairobi Enterprises and Services Ltd
He’s credited with the founding of:
East African Business Council Kenya Private Sector Alliance
The Chandaria Business Innovation and Incubation Center (Kenyatta University)
Apart from his service and success in the private sector, Manu has also been an eminent figure in serving the country through the many government appointments he has had. Some of his appointments include:
Trustee & Chairman of the Street Families Rehabilitation Trust Fund
Member of the National Economics & Social Council Member of the Police Reforms Task Force
Member of the Environment Policy National Steering Committee
Member of the Capital Markets Authority Board Member of the Insurance Advisory Board
Member of National Disaster Emergency Fund Committee (This was after the 1998 Bombing)
If there is a businessperson whose name is synonymous to both charity and philanthropy, it is Manu Chandaria. His philanthropy work in Kenya and Asia has great resemblance to that of the Rockefeller Foundation. He is the chairman of the Chandaria Foundation, the family foundation with interest in Education and Health which started in 1952. Other Charitable works include:
Asian Foundation (Founding chair) Starehe Girls Centre (Chair) Limuru Girls Centre (Chair)
Kenya Ear Foundation (Chair) The Heart Foundation (Trustee) Rotary Club of Nairobi (Past Chair)
Goodwill Ambassador (Word Wildlife Fund (WWF)) Pan African Parliament (Trustee)
Undungu Society of Kenya (Trustee) Watoto Kwanza Trust (Founding Chair and trustee)
Global School Business Network (GSBN) (Advisor) World Jain Confederation (Trustee)
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with OBE (Order of the British Empire) honoured him in 2003. In the same year, His Excellency President Mwai Kibaki also awarded him with EBS (Elder of the Burning Spear). He also has many honours, notably a record three-year in a row most respected CEO in East Africa (2000, 2001, and 2002), Jawaharlal Nehru Excellence Award (1989), and Lifetime Achievement Award in Delhi India (2008).



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