Anil Rai Gupta

Chairman & Managing Director

Anil Rai Gupta is the Chairman and Managing Director of Havells India Limited, a $1.4 billion FMEG (Fast Moving Electrical Goods) conglomerate. Havells is one of the fastest growing FMEG companies in India and has evolved into a socially and environmentally responsible global company with a leading presence in each product segment it is present in.

Anil Joined Havells in 1992. He designed, articulated and implemented marketing strategy that transformed the company from just a family brand to a global brand, revered for its technology, innovation, customer friendliness and product range. He honed his entrepreneurial skills under the tutelage of his father and Founder Chairman, Late Sh. Qimat Rai Gupta.

In 2003, Anil guided the company to diversify from being a pure Industrial Product Company to also a Consumer Product Company. His foresightedness helped company glide through the storm of global economic crisis in 2008 and Havells continued to book profits. Anil took forward the vision of his father and played a key role in modernising of plants and overall infrastructure. Today, Havells has the best infrastructure and most modern plants across the entire electrical Industry in India.

He was instrumental in the new business development through alliances and acquisitions. In 2007, he led the effort of acquiring Sylvania, a US $600 million German lighting systems and fixtures company. Sylvania at that time was 1.5 times bigger than Havells. This acquisition helped Havells moved from domestic shores to become one of world’s largest lighting companies. Havells has since grown in brand stature, revenues and leadership position.

Anil graduated in Economics from Sri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University and then went on to pursue MBA (Marketing and Finance) from Wake Forest University, North Carolina, USA. Not only was he amongst the top five students in the graduating class in Wake Forest University, he was also awarded the “Babcock Award” for excellence in academics, integrity and leadership. Further, he was elected as the Vice President of the Students Government Association in his University.

A firm believer of giving back to the society, Anil with the blessings from his father initiated the Mid-day meal programme through QRG foundation. Every day, the foundation provides hygienic and nutritious food to over 50000 school children across 666 government schools in Alwar district of Rajasthan. QRG Foundation has taken the mandate to provide sanitation facilities especially for girls in all the schools where it provides mid-day meal in order to provide an ideal environment for education.

A firm believer of power of education, Anil believes that a study of liberal arts is essential in shaping leaders of the future. With this thought, he became one of the founding members of India’s first liberal Arts university- Ashoka University.

Besides wiring Havells’ aggressive global future, Anil also takes keen interest in music and playing golf. He lives in Delhi with his wife and two children.