The Lord Bilimoria

The Lord Bilimoria, born Karan Faridoon Bilimoria, is a prominent British Indian entrepreneur, life peer, and university chancellor. He is best known as the founder of the international beer brand Cobra Beer and for his extensive work in business advocacy and higher education. A Crossbencher in the House of Lords, he has been a significant voice on issues of trade, entrepreneurship, and United Kingdom–India relations.

Early life and education

Born into a distinguished Parsi family in Hyderabad, India, his father, Faridoon Bilimoria, was a decorated general in the Indian Army. He completed his initial schooling at the prestigious St Mary's School in Mumbai before earning a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Osmania University. He then moved to the United Kingdom, where he qualified as a chartered accountant after studies at the University of Hertfordshire. He later attended Sidney Sussex College at the University of Cambridge, graduating with a degree in Law.

Business career

In 1989, with a loan of £20,000, he founded Cobra Beer, aiming to create a less gassy beer suited to accompany Indian cuisine. The company grew rapidly, securing listings in major UK restaurant chains like Veeraswamy and expanding into international markets across Europe, North America, and Asia. Following a period of financial restructuring, a joint venture was formed with Molson Coors in 2009, creating the Cobra Beer Partnership. He has also served as Chairman of the Cobra Beer Partnership and is a founding Chairman of the UK India Business Council. His other business roles have included positions with the Confederation of British Industry and the British Government's Asia Task Force.

Political career and public service

He was created a life peer on 1 July 2006, taking the title Baron Bilimoria, of Chelsea in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and sits as a Crossbencher in the House of Lords. In the Parliament, he has served as a member of the Select Committee on Soft Power and the UK’s Influence and has been a vocal advocate for small businesses, international trade, and educational reform. He was appointed Chancellor of the University of Birmingham in 2014, succeeding Sir Dominic Cadbury. He has also held the presidency of the UK Council for International Student Affairs and served as the Lord Lieutenant's Deputy for Greater London.

Honours and awards

His contributions to business and international trade have been recognized with numerous accolades. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2004 New Year Honours and was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2004. He has received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award from the Government of India and holds honorary doctorates from several institutions, including the University of Hertfordshire and the University of West London. In 2022, he was installed as a Knight of the Order of St John.

Personal life

He is married to Heather Bilimoria, a former ballet dancer with the English National Ballet, and they have three children. A committed philanthropist, he has supported various charitable causes, including the British Red Cross and the Prince's Trust. He is also a noted collector of contemporary art and maintains strong ties to his Parsi heritage and the Zoroastrian faith.

Category:1961 births Category:Living people Category:British life peers Category:British people of Indian descent Category:Indian emigrants to the United Kingdom Category:Chancellors of the University of Birmingham Category:Founders of food and drink companies Category:Crossbench life peers