Lord Karan Bilimoria

London, UK

The Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea

House of Lords

Biography

Karan Bilimoria is the Founder of Cobra Beer, Chairman of the Cobra Beer Partnership Ltd, a Joint Venture with Molson Coors & Chairman of Molson Coors Cobra India. In the Monde Selection, one of the most prestigious quality awards in the world for beer, the Cobra range have been awarded 101 Gold medals since 2001; one of the most awarded beers in the world.

Lord Bilimoria is the Founding Chairman of the UK India Business Council, a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London, a former Chancellor of Thames Valley University (now the University of West London); he was the youngest University Chancellor in the UK when appointed. Karan was a former Senior Non-Executive Director of the Booker Group PLC; one of the first two visiting entrepreneurs at the University of Cambridge; founding member of the Prime Minister of India’s Global Advisory Council. In 2006, Karan was appointed the Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea; the first ever Zoroastrian Parsi to sit in the House of Lords. In 2008 he was awarded the Pravasi Bharti Samman by the President of India. He is an honorary fellow of Sidney Sussex College Cambridge & Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Judge Business School, Cambridge University.

He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young and graduated in law from the University of Cambridge. He is also an alumnus through executive education of the Cranfield School of Management, the London Business School and the Harvard Business School. In July 2014, he was installed as Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, making him the first Indian-born Chancellor of a Russell Group University in Great Britain, and he is the President of the UK Council for International Students Affairs. Lord Bilimoria was the Bynum Tudor Fellow at Kellogg College, University of Oxford, 2017-18.

Lord Karan Bilimoria’s Newsfeed

08 Nov 2018

The Guardian

Business leaders call for second Brexit referendum

Sir Mike Rake, the former chair of BT, Justin King, the former chief executive of Sainsbury’s, and Lord Karan Bilimoria, the founder of Cobra beer, were among those fronting the group...Lord Bilimoria, the founder of Cobra beer, says Brexit is a ‘train crash in slow motion’.

06 Nov 2018

The Guardian

International students are abandoning Britain – we must stem the tide

Lord Karan Bilimoria writes: "We are in a global race. Our competitor countries are continually increasing their market share of international students – growing at double-digit percentage rates per year, while we have been flatlining..."

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Lord Karan Bilimoria’s Background

House of Lords

The Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea

2006 - Present

London, UK

Karan Bilimoria was appointed The Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea, the first Zoroastrian Parsi to sit in the House of Lords.

The Cobra Beer Partnership

Founder

Jan 1989 - Present

Burton upon Trent, UK

A joint venture company that combines the brewing, selling & marketing expertise of the highly successful international brewer Molson Coors, with Cobra Beer’s iconic brand and strong presence in ethnic restaurants and off-trade. Since 2014, the Foundation has partnered with Belu water launching a range of bottled water, with 100% of the profits made donated to Water Aid (2015 £17,000 S Asia).

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Other Business Interests

University of West London (Thames Valley)

Chancellor

London, UK

The University of West London, formerly Thames Valley University, is a high ranking modern university in London. The majority of its graduates find employment, or further study, within six months of graduation.

Pravasi Bharatiya Samma Award

Awardee

Delhi, IN

In 2008 Lord Bilimoria was awarded the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samma Award by the President of India. It is the highest honour conferred on overseas Indians.

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Current Non-Executive Positions

Cambridge Judge Business School

Chairman, Advisory Board

Jan 2016 - Present

Cambridge, UK

Cambridge Judge Business School is at the heart of Cambridge, advancing knowledge and leadership through people who leave a mark on the world. The world-class faculty of the School comprises around 55 members, many leaders in their field, who represent all continents. Their research interests span the globe & the full spectrum of business issues.

UKCISA

President

Jan 2015 - Present

London, UK

UKCISA’s national training programme serves the interests of international students and all who work with them in universities, colleges and students' unions, by providing up-to-date immigration, fees and international student experience information.

The University of Birmingham

Chancellor

Jan 2014 - Present

Birmingham, UK

Lord Bilimoria is the 7th Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, a public research university located in Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom. It received its royal charter in 1900 and is the UK's fourth largest university by enrollment.

Seven Hills

Advisory Board Member

Jan 2013 - Present

Seven Hills campaigns for change makers; the entrepreneurs, investors, philanthropists, business leaders and innovators who realise the positive potential of business. They create campaigns that help businesses, people and organisations to stand out, grow faster and make a difference, in a fast-evolving business landscape.

Birmingham Business School

Advisory Board Member

Jan 2005 - Present

A research-led, multi-disciplinary, international business school developing a new generation of global business leaders and entrepreneurs. By enabling graduates to add value throughout their careers, providing superior business intelligence to its partners and focusing research on the key challenges facing the economy & society, they are committed to making a difference.

Greater London

Deputy Lieutenant

Sep 2001 - Present

London, UK

Deputy Lieutenants (DLs) are appointed by the Lord-Lieutenant, at his discretion, to assist him in his duties. They must live within Greater London, or within seven miles of the boundary. DLs are distinguished residents who either have served the local community, or have a history of service in other fields.

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Previous Non-Executive Positions

Booker Group plc

Senior Non-Executive Director

2007 - 2016

London, UK

Booker Group plc was founded in 1835 and is the UK’s leading food wholesaler, with over 13,000 employees. In 2018 the company merged with Tesco PLC.

Philanthropy

The Loomba Foundation

Chairman, Advisory Board

Jan 2001 - Present

The Loomba Foundation is a non-profit, UN accredited, international NGO. It helps widows and their children regardless of race, religion or gender, aiming to eradicate discrimination against widows, lobby governments to give widows their due pensions and rightful inheritances, empower widows through employment opportunities and educate their children.