There is one quality which one must possess to succeed, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it. And Ajay G. Piramal, Chairman, Nicholas Piramal India Ltd, is one of those individuals who not only had a burning desire to lead the pack but has also pursued relentlessly what he desired. It's no wonder that today Piramal is heading the NPIL - the fourth largest pharmaceutical player in India with an annual turnover of $ 250 million. Not only this, he is also the Chairman and Managing Director of Piramal Enterprises Limited, a $550 million industrial group with significant presence in pharmaceuticals, retailing, textiles and glass containers.

A B.Sc (Hons) with First Class Distinction from the Bombay University and a Master's in Management Studies (Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies), Piramal has worked his way up which few have been able to accomplish. A firm believer that success has its price, Piramal is among the few entrepreneurs who have earned his achievements though blood, sweat and by burning his mid-night oil. Always believing that management needs to keep itself abridged with the latest theories and practices around the world, Piramal later went to do his Advanced Management Programme at the Harvard Business School and has unceasingly applied his new-found wisdom to the NPIL.

Piramal began journey of success with the acquisition of the $ 4 million Nicholas Laboratories from Sara Lee way back in 1988. NPIL, since then, under the stewardship of Piramal has registered dramatic growth through a string of acquisitions that include the Indian subsidiaries of MNCs like Roche, Boehringer Mannheim, Rhone Poulenc, and Hoechst Marion Roussel and the pharmaceutical division of ICI India limited.

As it's commonly said that nothing succeeds like success, NPIL under Piramal has been able to enter into joint ventures with world-leaders like Boots, Allergan, Hoffmann-La Roche and Aventis. And to speak of the profit, NPIL, with its joint ventures, has augmented an annual turnover of over $ 350 million. In fact, it was not too long back when under his leadership PEL signed a 50:50 joint venture agreement with BUPA, the largest provider of healthcare services in the UK, for introducing "one-stop" health facilities in India. Not only this, the group under the able guidance of Piramal, also owned a profitable retail business (Pyramid Megastore) that is on the threshold of exciting growth. Gujarat Glass Ltd., another group company, runs a successful export business and is actively looking to step up its presence in the US market.

Morarjee Mills, Morarjee Brembana (JV) and Morarjee Castiglioni (JV) represent the group's textile ventures. Known for his multi-faceted personality, Piramal is a member of Prime Minister's Council for Trade & Industry and part of the task force on Pharmaceuticals & Knowledge-Based Industries, constituted by the Government of India. He is also on the Board of Directors of State Bank of India and a Director of Pratham, an initiative to provide affordable education to underprivileged Indian children. Further, he was also selected as one of the World Economic Forum's "Global Leaders of Tomorrow" in 1996. With a fantastic career past to speak for him, it comes as no surprise that he has been re-appointed for a further period of 5 years w.e.f. April 01, 2007.With a visionary like him heading the NPIL, there is no stopping the company from reaching the sky.