Ms. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw

Chairman & MD

Ms. Shaw heads India’s leading Biotechnology enterprise Biocon Limited. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw's pioneering efforts in biotechnology have drawn global recognition both for Indian Industry and Biocon. Her unique vision has steered Biocon's transition from an industrial enzymes company to an integrated bio pharmaceutical company with strategic research initiatives.

Biocon is today recognized as India's pioneering bio tech enterprise. Indian businesswoman who, as chairman and managing director (1978) of Biocon Group , led a pioneering enterprise that utilized India’s homegrown scientific talent to make breakthroughs in clinical research.

Background

She did consulting work for a few years before meeting Leslie Auchincloss, then owner of an Irish firm, Biocon Biochemicals. Impressed by Mazumdar Shaw’s drive and ambition, Auchincloss took her on as a partner in a new venture, Biocon India, which was launched in 1978 and produced enzymes for alcoholic beverages, paper, and other products. In 2001 Biocon became the first Indian company to gain the approval of the U.S. Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) for the manufacture of a cholesterol lowering molecule

Qualification & Position

Ms. Shaw received a graduate honors degree in Zoology from Bangalore University (1973) and qualified as a Master Brewer from Ballarat University, Australia (1975). Ms Shaw also received an honorary Doctorate of Science in 2004, from her Alma Mater, Ballarat University, in recognition of her preeminent contributions to the field of Biotechnology. She has also been awarded honorary doctorates from University of Abertay, Dundee, U.K. (2007), University of Glasgow, U.K. (2008) and Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, U.K. (2008). She recently received an honorary Doctorate of Science by the National University of Ireland (2012) for her contribution to economic life and was also conferred an honorary doctorate by Trinity college Dublin (2012).

Personal

In personal front she is married to John Shaw, a Scotsman and Indophile, who headed a leading textiles MNC, Madura Coats from 1991-1998 as Chairman and Managing Director. John Shaw is currently the Vice-Chairman, of Biocon Limited.

Honours & Awards

Ms. Shaw is the recipient of several prestigious awards including the Nikkei Asia Prize, 2009 for Regional Growth, Express Pharmaceutical Leadership Summit Award 2009 for Dynamic Entrepreneur, the Economic Times ‘Businesswoman of the Year’, the ‘Veuve Clicquot Initiative For Economic Development For Asia, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Life Sciences & Healthcare, ‘Technology Pioneer’ recognition by World Economic Forum and The Indian Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award. Her most cherished awards are the national awards, PADMASHRI (1989) and PADMA BHUSHAN (2005) presented to her by the President of India, for her pioneering efforts in Industrial Biotechnology. Ms. Shaw is highly respected in the corporate world. She is a much sought after biotech pioneer who has been referred to as "India's Biotech Queen" by The Economist and "India's mother of invention" by New York Times. She was conferred the Wharton- Infosys Business Transformation Award in 2006 for spearheading the Biotechnology sector in India. Nature Biotechnology has recently voted her the most influential Bio-business personality outside Europe and USA.

Specialisation & Skills

She is highly respected in the corporate world and has been named among TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world. Recently, Economic Times placed her at India Inc’s top 10 most powerful women CEO for the year 2012. Her pioneering efforts in biotechnology have drawn global recognition both for Indian Industry and Biocon

She is also part of the Prime Minister’s Council on Trade & Industry in India and the US-India CEO Forum. Ms. Shaw serves as Member, Governing Body and General Body of the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, an Autonomous Body of the Government of India. She is also a member of the Union Commerce Ministry-instituted committee to advise the government on India's export promotion strategy. She is a member of committee of Indian National Corporate governance policy to prepare a draft for a concept paper. She serves as a Member of the Eminent Persons Group of the Competition Commission of India, New Delhi. She is a Member of India Advisory Board for the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. She’s also on the honorary Board of advisors of The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS), USA .