Early Life
Harsh Mariwala was born in Mumbai in 1951. His grandfather, Vallabhdas Vasanji, migrated to Mumbai in 1862 and became known as “Mariwala” due to his successful pepper trading business. His father, Charandas Mariwala, co-founded Bombay Oil Industries Limited in 1948, laying the foundation for the family’s entrepreneurial legacy. Mariwala graduated from Sydenham College in Mumbai with a B.Com degree in 1971.
Rise to Success
Mariwala joined his family's Bombay Oil Industries in 1971. He initiated the consumer products division. In 1990, he founded Marico, a fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) manufacturer. Under his leadership, Marico expanded internationally and has operations in 25 countries across Asia and Africa. Marico went public with an initial public offering in 1996. He has built a portfolio of brands in hair care, skin care, edible oils, health foods, male grooming, and fabric care. The company’s major brands include Saffola and Parachute.
Key Business Strategies
Mariwala focused on innovation, brand building, and establishing a positive company culture. He emphasized the importance of recruiting talented employees and ensuring the company's interests were prioritized. He also acquired several brands, including Nihar, Set Wet, Livon, and Zatak, to expand Marico's portfolio. Harsh Mariwala’s entrepreneurial journey is marked by major achievements. He led Marico’s initial public offering in 1996. In 2006, he acquired Nihar from Hindustan Unilever, and in 2016, he acquired Set Wet, Livon, and Zatak from Reckitt Benckiser.
Philanthropy
In 2003, Mariwala founded the Marico Innovation Foundation (MIF), the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of Marico, to support start-ups. In 2012, he set up the ASCENT Foundation, a peer learning platform for entrepreneurs. In 2014, he founded the Mariwala Health Initiative (MHI), which focuses on supporting mental health issues.