Early Life and Education
Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao was born on July 14, 1950, in Rajam, Andhra Pradesh, India. He came from an upper-middle-class family involved in commodities trading and a small jewelry business. Rao graduated from Andhra University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. After graduating he worked in a paper mill and then in the Public Works Department before entering into business.
Rise to Success
Rao's entrepreneurial journey began with commodities trading, at the insistence of his mother. He acquired a struggling jute mill, which proved lucrative, enabling him to acquire more assets. He later divested his stakes in several industries, co-founding Vysya Bank. In 1978, Rao established the GMR Group, expanding it into energy, highways, and airports. The GMR Group, under Rao's leadership, has become a leading airport developer in India, with major projects including Delhi and Hyderabad airports.
Key Business Strategies
GMR Group has leveraged the public-private partnership model. Rao has focused on core infrastructure sectors. His strategy has involved building world-class national assets and expanding internationally. The group has aimed for a strategy-driven approach, focusing on airports, energy, and urban infrastructure.
Philanthropy
Rao established the GMR Varalakshmi Foundation (GMRVF) as the CSR arm of the GMR Group. The foundation focuses on developing social infrastructure and improving the quality of life in communities near GMR Group's locations. In 2012, he donated ₹1,540 crores for charitable purposes.