Harsh Mariwala
Chairman, Marico Limited- Marico Ltd
- Kaya Ltd
- ASCENT
- Sharrp Ventures
- Marico Innovation Foundation (MIF)
Harsh Mariwala's Journey so far ...
- Harsh C. Mariwala joined his family business Bombay Oil Industries in 1971. Back then, Parachute and Saffola oil were among the flagship products of the company
- At the time, the oils were sold in large quantities in tin cans but Mariwala envisioned retail opportunities
- After spending some time evaluating the market and addressing various challenges related to design and packaging, round, plastic bottles of Parachute oil were first launched during the ‘80s
- On April 2, 1990, Mariwala founded Marico which was established as a separate entity. The company also entered a user agreement with Bombay Oil Industries to use its brands, Parachute and Saffola, initially for a period of 3 years
- In 1991, Marico launched the non-sticky oil Hair & Care and Sweekar sunflower oil
- During 1992-94, the company moved its headquarters to Bandra and opened its first overseas office in Dubai
- Marico went public in India in 1996
- The company got its first overseas manufacturing facility in Bangladesh in 1999
- The same year, Mariwala pioneered the acquisition of Mediker
- He launched the unisex skin-care clinic chain Kaya Clinics in 2002. Today, the chain has presence across India and the Middle East and provides expert solutions in the areas of skin and hair care
- He found the Marico Innovation Foundation (MIF) -- a non-profit organisation which promotes innovation across business and social sectors in India -- in 2003
- In a bid to further increase its market share in the hair oil market, Marico acquired the brand Nihar from Hindustan Lever Ltd. (HLL) for Rs 240 crore in 2006
- Expanding the company’s footprints, Mariwala’s company entered the African market with a series of acquisition in Egypt and South Africa during 2006-07
- Marico’s Bangladesh subsidiary launched its IPO in 2009
- The following year, Marico entered the South East Asian market with the launch of a series of products in Malaysia and Singapore
- Mariwala launched the non-profit ASCENT in 2012 to enable growth-stage entrepreneurs and help them take their venture to the next level
- In 2014, the turnover of Mariwala’s business group reached Rs 5,000 crore and in the following year, the group’s market capitalisation crossed the Rs 25,000 crore mark
- Mariwala stepped down as managing director of Marico in 2014
- Over the years, the Marico group has innovated several products and has established its presence in the hair care, skin care, edible oils, health foods, male grooming and fabric care sectors
- In India the group is well known for its brands Parachute, Saffola, Hair & Care, Nihar, Livon, Set Wet, Mediker and Revive. While brands such as Parachute, HairCode, Fiancée, Caivil, Hercules, Black Chic, Isoplus, Code 10, Ingwe, X-Men and Thuan Phat are used by its international consumers
- Currently, the Marico group’s business is spread across 25 countries
- Mariwala, during his tenure, has led the growth of the group from a turnover of Rs 50 lakhs in 1971 to Rs 6,300 crore during 2017-18
Before you go ...
- An avid reader, he often shares book recommendations and his thoughts on various topics through social media
Harsh Mariwala News
- Marico’s Harsh Mariwala, maker of Parachute and Saffola, shares how a chat with a small shopkeeper gave him billion-dollar ideaMarico Chairman Harsh Mariwala revealed how a small-town retailer's feedback sparked a billion-dollar idea for his company. The suggestion to introduce smaller, more convenient pack sizes for products like Parachute and Saffola revolutionized Marico's approach to India's mass market. This shift, born from real-world interactions rather than data, transformed the company into a household FMCG name.
- Ex-Zerodha employee's handwritten mid-flight letter to Marico billionaire Harsh Mariwala leaves him speechlessDuring a recent flight from Coimbatore to Mumbai, Marico Chairman Harsh Mariwala received a handwritten note from Karnesh SV, a former Zerodha employee and now an entrepreneur. The letter expressed gratitude for Mariwala’s contributions to India’s startup ecosystem, particularly through the ASCENT Foundation. Deeply moved, Mariwala shared the experience on social media, reflecting on the power of simple gestures and the importance of community-led growth.
- Marico extends CEO Saugata Gupta's term for 2 yearsMarico, the Indian FMCG giant, has reappointed Saugata Gupta as Managing Director & CEO for another two years, effective from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2028. The board also approved the continuation of Harsh Mariwala, Chairman and Founder, as a Non-Executive Director. Gupta has been with Marico since 2004 and has served as MD & CEO since 2014.
- Being the smartest isn’t enough: Marico's Harsh Mariwala shares an unconventional path to successHarsh Mariwala, Chairman of Marico Limited, believes that long-term business success comes from consistent execution and discipline rather than brilliant ideas. He stresses the importance of maintaining conviction during tough times. Marico's growth is attributed to unwavering commitment to effective routines, suggesting this approach also shapes effective leaders.
- Work-life balance essential, not optional: Industry leaders on L&T chief's remarksIndustry leaders Harsh Mariwala, Harsh Goenka, and Rajiv Bajaj emphasized that work-life balance is essential, not optional. They critiqued L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan's 90-hour work week suggestion. Mariwala and Goenka highlighted the importance of quality work over hours clocked, while Bajaj advocated starting such practices from the top.
- Emerging Titans: Harsh & Rishabh Mariwala on doing business by pivoting on ‘masstige,’ D2C & changing consumption patternHarsh and Rishabh Mariwala discussed emerging consumer trends, including premiumization, D2C growth, and the rise of 'masstige' products. They highlighted the transformative impact of quick commerce on distribution, necessitating strategic adaptation. Marico's future focuses on food expansion, premiumization, D2C brands, international growth, and maintaining its core business amidst evolving market dynamics.
- Marico’s Priyanjali Mariwala buys luxury apartment in Mumbai’s BKC for Rs 65 crPriyanjali Mariwala, from the promoter family of consumer goods company Marico, has purchased a luxury apartment in Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) for Rs 65.25 crore. The apartment spans nearly 8,300 sq ft and is located on the first floor of the super-premium residential tower Signature Island. Mariwala acquired the property from Starlight Systems, a part of the project's developer Sunteck Realty.
- India ready to grow into a $35-trillion economy in 24 years, says Piyush GoyalEmphasising India's stature as a large and trusted economy, Goyal commended the global interest in investing, citing a meeting with a US investment house planning to double their $13-billion investment. Swarup Bose of Celcius Logistics Solutions was awarded Entrepreneur of The Year, Mohammad Hamza of Engineering & Environmental Solutions was recognised as Young Entrepreneur of The Year and Jayashree Nair of BDH Industries as Women Entrepreneur of The Year.
- From failure to success: The story of Saffola oats exemplifies Mariwala's wisdomSaffola oats, now a market leader, initially struggled due to misalignment with consumer expectations. Marico's subsequent success stemmed from understanding regional tastes and creating a product that seamlessly combined health and flavor. This journey underscores the importance of perseverance and adaptation in business.
- How Harsh Mariwala's Marico is reinventing itself with changing timesMarico, one of India's largest FMCG companies, has successfully diversified its product portfolio to reduce its reliance on its traditional brands, Parachute coconut oil and Saffola edible oil. The company has expanded into new categories such as food and D2C (direct-to-consumer) brands, including healthy snacks and personal care products. Marico's revenue contribution from coconut oil has decreased, while the contribution from new categories has grown to approximately 15% of domestic revenue in FY23 and is expected to reach 20% in FY24.
- ET Awards for Corporate Excellence 2022: And the award goes to...The message is clear: To lift growth and create jobs, a manufacturing push is vital. At LEADING FROM THE FRONT The Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was confident that the Indian private sector is ready to step up to the challenge. And senior business leaders seemed to agree. Here's the complete list of the winners:
- Innovations can play a key role in addressing challenges faced by India: Marico chairmanSince the programme's inception, MIF has helped several organisations scale up. It has not only seen a positive impact on their business in the form of healthy revenue growth, geographic and strategic expansion but also by ensuring operational efficiencies while optimising their business for profitability.
- Handing over reins of Marico to a professional was a psychological sacrifice: Harsh Mariwala"Marico has transitioned successfully from a family managed business to a strategic investor-driven one," he said. Mariwala spoke to ET as part of discussions on his successful book "Harsh Realities: The Making of Marico" written during the Covid lockdown that shares his entrepreneurial journey and struggles at the heart of Marico's transformation.
- Covid-19 infects white-collar job market, companies across sectors deferring interviewsWhile many companies across sectors had started going slow on their hiring plans over the last one month by deferring interviews, job seekers are now faced with an indefinite delay in the issuing of offer letters as several companies have put the process on hold even after the final selection of a candidate. However, there has been no withdrawal or cancellation of offers given out so far.