Azim H. Premji is the Non-Executive, Non-Independent Director of the Company (the “Founder Chairman”) since July 31, 2019. Mr. Premji was the Chairman of the Company until July 30, 2019, and had been at its helm since the late 1960s, turning what was then a small cooking fat company into a U.S.$ 10.5 billion revenue group with businesses in IT, Consulting and Business Process Services with a presence in 65 countries.
Azim firmly believes that businesses have a responsibility to employ ethical, fair, and ecologically sensitive business practices, and to engage with fundamental societal issues. Wipro is recognized as a global leader in sustainability for its social and environmental initiatives spanning all countries across its operational footprint.
Azim has established the Azim Premji Foundation and its related entities, which do extensive philanthropic work in India. The work spans from the Foundation’s direct work in 14 states in improving public education and health, childcare, and livelihoods, as also in all other states of the country thru over 1900 partners supported by multi-year financial grants. The Foundation also runs the not-for-profit Azim Premji University which is focused on programs in education and related fields of human development.
Over the years, Azim Premji has received numerous honors and accolades, which he considers to be recognitions for Wipro and the Foundation teams. BusinessWeek listed him amongst the top 30 entrepreneurs in world history. Financial Times, Time, Fortune and Forbes have all named him as of one the most influential people in the world, citing his leadership in business and philanthropy, including the contributions to improving public education. The Journal of Foreign Policy listed him amongst the top global thinkers. Economic Times bestowed Azim with the Lifetime Achievement Award. He is the first Indian recipient of the Faraday Medal and has been conferred honorary doctorates by the Michigan State University and Wesleyan University (in the US), and the Indian Institutes of Technology at Bombay, Roorkee and Kharagpur, amongst others. The Republic of France bestowed upon him the highest French civilian distinction, the Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honor) in November 2018. The Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy was bestowed on him in 2017. In January 2011, he was bestowed with the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award in India.
Azim Premji has a graduate degree in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.
Azim Premji also holds esteemed directorship positions across the following group organizations: Wipro Enterprises Private Limited, Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives Private Limited, Azim Premji Custodial and Management Services Private Limited, Azim Premji Foundation for Development, Azim Premji Trustee Company Private Limited, Azim Premji Trust Services Private Limited, Azim Premji Safe Deposit Company Private Limited, Wipro GE Healthcare Private Limited and Azim Premji Foundation.
