Gopichand Hinduja, chairman of Hinduja Group and UK’s richest man, passes away at 85

Gopichand Parmanand Hinduja, the chairman of the multinational Hinduja Group and one of Britain’s wealthiest individuals, passed away at the age of 85. The news of his death was announced by British lawmaker and Tory peer Rami Ranger on Tuesday.

Ranger, in a heartfelt condolence message, described Hinduja as “one of the most gracious, humble, and loyal friends”, calling his passing “the end of an era.” He said Hinduja was a guiding force and a true well-wisher of the community who always supported charitable and social causes.

Born in 1940 in India, Gopichand Hinduja was the second of the four Hinduja brothers who built the group into one of the largest family-run conglomerates in the world. A graduate of Mumbai’s Jai Hind College, he later became the chairman of Hinduja Automotive Ltd and took over leadership of the Hinduja Group in 2023 after the passing of his elder brother, Srichand Hinduja.

For seven consecutive years, Gopichand Hinduja was listed as the richest individual in the United Kingdom by the Sunday Times Rich List. He held honorary doctorates in Law and Economics from the University of Westminster and London’s Richmond College, respectively. Tributes have poured in from across industries, remembering him as a visionary businessman and a philanthropist who left a lasting legacy.