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, the prestigious global quality awards for beer, the Cobra range have excelled, winning 94 Gold medals since 2001.

Lord Bilimoria is the Founding Chairman of the UK India Business Council, a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London and was the youngest UK University Chancellor when appointed to Thames Valley University.

Karan was a Senior Non-Executive Director of the Booker Group PLC, one of the first two visiting entrepreneurs at the University of Cambridge and a founding member of the Prime Minister of India’s Global Advisory Council.

In 2006, Karan Bilimoria was appointed The Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea, the first 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.

In 2014, he was installed as Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, making him the first Indian-born Chancellor of a Russell Group University and he is President of the UK Council for International Students Affairs. Lord Bilimoria is 2017-18 Bynum Tudor Fellow at Kellogg College, Oxford University.

Lord Karan Bilimoria’s Newsfeed

13 Sep 2018

The Drum

Cobra Beer founder Lord Karan Bilimoria: It took us eight years to afford above-the-line advertising

The Drum spoke with Lord Karan Bilimoria to find out the idea behind the gluten beer. He says: "I wanted everybody to be able to experience the great Cobra taste and its unbeatable smooth texture – including coeliacs, vegans and vegetarians."

06 Sep 2018

UK university in Dubai awards first ‘fully-funded’ scholarships

The university’s Chancellor, Lord Karan Bilimoria, is delighted to sponsor the Chancellor’s Full Scholarship Awards as a commitment to the outstanding students that the University of Birmingham has a history of attracting.

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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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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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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.