Uday Kotak awarded as the \'EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2013\'

Uday Kotak, Executive Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Kotak Mahindra Bank, who has created India’s leading financial services conglomerate in just over two decades was today named the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2013. Dr Yusuf K Hamied, Chairman, Cipla, who is widely respected as Indian pharma’s renaissance man, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award for driving the vision of affordable healthcare for all.

Uday Kotak will now represent India at the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year Award (WEOY) in Monte Carlo from 4-8 June, 2014.

Rajiv Memani, Country Managing Partner, EY India says, “Our winners have truly been innovative game-changers, developing new products and services with scalable business model and thereby successfully creating value in a challenging business environment. Along with innovation, they have also focussed intensely on their niche, which has delivered tremendous competitive advantage both in the local market and on the global platform.”

The winners were selected by a high powered eight member Jury, led by Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group; and comprised some of the most eminent business leaders like Adi Godrej, Founder, Chairman & CEO, Godrej Group; Keki Mistry, Vice Chairman & CEO, Housing Development Finance Corporation; R. Seshasayee, Executive Vice Chairman, Ashok Leyland; Ravi Venkatesan, Founder & Board Chair, Social Venture Partners; Sandeep Naik, Managing Director, General Atlantic; Shardul Shroff, Managing Partner, Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co; and Shikha Sharma, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Axis Bank.

The Entrepreneur of The Year is the only business award to be based on self-nomination and it is now in its 15th year in India. Farokh Balsara, Partner EY and EOY India Program Leader says, “Entrepreneurs have played a seminal role in the success of fast-growing economies like India. We at EY are committed to helping them succeed in building a better working world. The record 350+ nominations for our awards this year demonstrates the confidence of our entrepreneurial community and how they are driving excellence with breakthrough ideas and business models. We salute their achievements.”

Eight other successful entrepreneurs also received these coveted awards across various categories at a glittering Awards banquet here today, which was attended by over 500 people, including many business leaders.

EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2013: Winners

Lifetime Entrepreneur Of The Year: Dr Yusuf K Hamied, Chairman, Cipla

EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2013: Uday Kotak, Executive Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Kotak Mahindra Bank

Entrepreneur Of The Year - Start-Up: Rizwan Koita, Chief Executive Officer, CitiusTech

Entrepreneur Of The Year – Services: VSS Mani, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Just Dial Ltd.

Entrepreneur Of The Year – Manufacturing: Rajju Devidas Shroff, Chairman & Managing Director, UPL Ltd. (formerly United Phosphorus Ltd.)

Entrepreneur of the Year – Manager: Vineet Nayyar and CP Gurnani, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer & MD, Tech Mahindra Ltd.

Entrepreneur Of The Year – Real Estate, Energy and Infrastructure: Ravi Menon, Chairman, Sobha Developers Ltd.

Entrepreneur Of The Year – Life Sciences and Healthcare: Amit Bakshi, Chairman, Managing Director & CEO, Eris Lifesciences Pvt. Ltd.

Entrepreneur Of The Year – Consumer Products: Qimat Rai Gupta, Chairman & Managing Director, Havells India Ltd.

Entrepreneur Of The Year – Business Transformation: Ajay Bijli, Chairman & Managing Director, PVR Ltd.

About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award

EY Entrepreneur of the Year is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential, and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in 60 countries.