CHAIRMAN'S PROFILE

Being different and making a difference. That sums up the vision, philosophy, conviction and driving force behind Dr. Habil F Khorakiwala who revels in venturing down the road less travelled.

He founded Wockhardt in 1967. Today, the Wockhardt Group is India’s leading research-based, global healthcare enterprise with relevance in the fields of Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), and Super Speciality Hospitals.

From daring to be the first pharmaceutical company to establish manufacturing facilities in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar against familial advice to the contrary, to focusing on new drug development in the antibiotics space over two decades ago; from venturing early into biotechnology to acquiring pharmaceutical companies across Europe and USA; it is the unique vision, strong passion and deep conviction of Dr. Khorakiwala that has steered Wockhardt to emerge as a research-based, global pharmaceutical and biotechnology company with interests across the healthcare value chain.

Wockhardt’s New Drug Discovery programme has focussed on unmet need of Anti-bacterial drugs that are effective against the menace of untreatable superbugs. Wockhardt is the only company in the world where USFDA has given QIDP Status (Qualified Infectious Disease Product) for 6 of our Anti-bacterial discovery programmes – 3 of them are Gram Negative and 3 Gram Positive effective against untreatable “Superbugs”. It has a comprehensive Drug Discovery team and clinical organisation.

Dr. Khorakiwala’s strategic insights, focused approach and courage of his convictions, have resulted in Wockhardt notching up several firsts to its credit. These include the launch of PROXYVON, the first combination formulation in pain management; launch of the first recombinant product, BIOVAC-B; and the launch of India’s 1st automatic insulin delivery device, WOSULIN PEN + Cartridges; among others.

Dr. Khorakiwala’s academic qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from India, a Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Science from Purdue University, USA, and an Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School, Boston, USA. Honoured with the title of ‘Distinguished Alumnus’ for significant contribution to the profession of pharmacy by his alma mater, Dr. Khorakiwala became the first non-American in 125 years to be conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by Purdue University (Pharmacy School) in 2010.

Over the years, Dr. Khorakiwala has been actively involved in the public space, holding leadership positions at various industry bodies and forums and has been recognised, lauded, awarded and honoured by numerous national and global institutions and organisations.

A member of the World Economic Forum (Davos), he has helmed, as President, FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry) as well as IPA (Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance). He was also the Chairman of the Board of Governors at the Centre for Organisation Development. He was the Chancellor of Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi, which is an outstanding institution of higher learning with distinct and focused academic programmes.

In 2017, Dr. Khorakiwala authored ‘Odyssey of Courage’, a book chronicling his entrepreneurial journey, and in 2018, he established the Wockhardt School of Courage, a unique mentorship programme for young and budding entrepreneurs, which was based on tenets, principles and insights drawn from the book.

Dr. Khorakiwala with his mantra of ‘Vision to Execute’, has successfully led Wockhardt to be a major Indian Pharmaceutical company that holds a strong presence in key global economies today. Amidst continuous business diversification, Corporate Social Responsibility has remained close to his heart for which he instituted Wockhardt Foundation committed to human welfare.

  • Past President of FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry)
  • Past President of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), the organisation of research-based pharmaceutical companies in India
  • Member of the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council set up by Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India
  • Nominated by Govt. of India to the National Managing Committee, Indian Red Cross Society
  • Nominated by the Prime Minister of India to the Advisory Board of CSIR [Council of Scientific and Industrial Research] in New Delhi
  • Member of BOT (Board of Trade) instituted by the Government of India under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry
  • Nominated by the Government of India as member of the Board of Directors of NIPER (National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research)
  • Shiromani Vikas Award for ‘Outstanding and Inspiring Contribution towards National Development’ at the hands of Mother Teresa in 1992
  • Institute of Marketing & Management (IMM) ‘Top CEO’ in 2002
  • International Medical Integration Council ‘Life Time Achievement’ in 2003
  • Giants Award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Business and Industry’ in 2003
  • Rotary Award for Vocational Excellence, 2003-04
  • Ernst & Young ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ in the Healthcare and Life Sciences category in 2004
  • Named ‘India’s Greatest Brand Builders’ in a book authored by Dr. R L Bhatia of Centre for Change Management in 2005
  • Indian Express Group of Newspapers ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ at the Pharma Excellence Awards 2006
  • UK Trade & Investment ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ at the India Business Awards 2008
  • ‘Honorary Doctorate in Pharmacy’ conferred by Purdue University in 2010
  • Frost & Sullivan ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ at the India Healthcare Excellence Awards 2012
  • ‘Global Indian of the Year 2018-19’ award from AsiaOne Magazine & URS Media Consulting PL
  • Recognised as one of the 75 change makers in the healthcare industry in the last 75 years
  • ‘AsiaOne Bharatiya Mahanatam Vikas Puraskar (BMVP)’ 2021-22

Dr. Khorakiwala has served as Honorary Consul General of Sweden in Mumbai