Gopichand P Hinduja, chairman of the century-old Hinduja Group and one of Britain’s wealthiest men, died in London on Tuesday, PTI reported citing family sources. He was 85.
Fondly known as GP, Hinduja led the sprawling business conglomerate through decades of expansion and diversification, transforming it from a trading firm in pre-independence India into one of the world’s most influential family-run empires.
He is survived by his wife Sunita, sons Sanjay and Dheeraj, and daughter Rita.
Earlier this year, The Sunday Times Rich List named Gopi Hinduja and his family as Britain’s richest for the second consecutive year, with a net worth of £35.3 billion, down slightly from £37.2 billion in 2024. Despite the dip, the Hindujas retained their position at the top of the list.
Also Read: Hinduja Group Chairman Gopichand P Hinduja dies at 85 in London hospital: Report
From Mumbai to the world
Born into the second generation of the Hinduja family, Gopichand began his career in the family’s Mumbai office in 1959 after graduating from Jai Hind College. Over the next six decades, he played a central role in redefining the scope and scale of the Hinduja Group, steering it beyond its original Indo-Middle East trading roots into a global powerhouse with interests spanning automotive, banking, energy, and media.
One of his defining moves came in 1984, when the group acquired Gulf Oil, a decision that laid the groundwork for future industrial expansions. Three years later, the purchase of the then-struggling Ashok Leyland marked a turning point. It became the first major non-resident Indian investment in India and went on to become one of the country’s most enduring corporate success stories.
Building an empire across sectors
Under GP’s leadership, the Hinduja Group expanded its presence in power, infrastructure, and finance. He championed large-scale energy projects across India and helped the group emerge as a key player in the country’s industrial development.
Today, the Hinduja Group employs more than 200,000 people worldwide and operates across sectors including transport, oil, banking, IT, and entertainment, as per TOI. Its flagship ventures, such as Ashok Leyland and IndusInd Bank, are deeply embedded in India’s economic landscape.
The London chapter
The Hinduja family’s global journey began when its founder, Parmanand Deepchand Hinduja, moved from Sindh (then in India, now in Pakistan) to Iran in 1919. Sixty years later, in 1979, the family shifted its base to London, establishing its presence at the heart of global finance.
Gopichand, who became a British citizen in 1997, was instrumental in shaping the family’s influence in the UK. He chaired both Hinduja Group and Hinduja Automotive Ltd, earning a reputation as a measured yet visionary businessman.
A legacy of leadership and philanthropy
Over the years, GP Hinduja received several honours, including honorary doctorates in law from the University of Westminster and in economics from Richmond College, London. Beyond business, he was known for his quiet philanthropy and his commitment to strengthening ties between India and the United Kingdom.
Following the death of his elder brother Srichand Hinduja in May 2023, Gopichand took over as chairman, continuing the family’s legacy of collective stewardship.
His passing marks the end of an era for one of the most powerful business families in the world, a clan whose story began with a small trading venture more than a century ago and grew, under Gopichand’s steady hand, into a multibillion-pound enterprise that straddles continents.
Fondly known as GP, Hinduja led the sprawling business conglomerate through decades of expansion and diversification, transforming it from a trading firm in pre-independence India into one of the world’s most influential family-run empires.
He is survived by his wife Sunita, sons Sanjay and Dheeraj, and daughter Rita.
Earlier this year, The Sunday Times Rich List named Gopi Hinduja and his family as Britain’s richest for the second consecutive year, with a net worth of £35.3 billion, down slightly from £37.2 billion in 2024. Despite the dip, the Hindujas retained their position at the top of the list.
Also Read: Hinduja Group Chairman Gopichand P Hinduja dies at 85 in London hospital: Report
From Mumbai to the world
Born into the second generation of the Hinduja family, Gopichand began his career in the family’s Mumbai office in 1959 after graduating from Jai Hind College. Over the next six decades, he played a central role in redefining the scope and scale of the Hinduja Group, steering it beyond its original Indo-Middle East trading roots into a global powerhouse with interests spanning automotive, banking, energy, and media.
One of his defining moves came in 1984, when the group acquired Gulf Oil, a decision that laid the groundwork for future industrial expansions. Three years later, the purchase of the then-struggling Ashok Leyland marked a turning point. It became the first major non-resident Indian investment in India and went on to become one of the country’s most enduring corporate success stories.
Building an empire across sectors
Under GP’s leadership, the Hinduja Group expanded its presence in power, infrastructure, and finance. He championed large-scale energy projects across India and helped the group emerge as a key player in the country’s industrial development.
Today, the Hinduja Group employs more than 200,000 people worldwide and operates across sectors including transport, oil, banking, IT, and entertainment, as per TOI. Its flagship ventures, such as Ashok Leyland and IndusInd Bank, are deeply embedded in India’s economic landscape.
The London chapter
The Hinduja family’s global journey began when its founder, Parmanand Deepchand Hinduja, moved from Sindh (then in India, now in Pakistan) to Iran in 1919. Sixty years later, in 1979, the family shifted its base to London, establishing its presence at the heart of global finance.
Gopichand, who became a British citizen in 1997, was instrumental in shaping the family’s influence in the UK. He chaired both Hinduja Group and Hinduja Automotive Ltd, earning a reputation as a measured yet visionary businessman.
A legacy of leadership and philanthropy
Over the years, GP Hinduja received several honours, including honorary doctorates in law from the University of Westminster and in economics from Richmond College, London. Beyond business, he was known for his quiet philanthropy and his commitment to strengthening ties between India and the United Kingdom.
Following the death of his elder brother Srichand Hinduja in May 2023, Gopichand took over as chairman, continuing the family’s legacy of collective stewardship.
His passing marks the end of an era for one of the most powerful business families in the world, a clan whose story began with a small trading venture more than a century ago and grew, under Gopichand’s steady hand, into a multibillion-pound enterprise that straddles continents.
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