Hinduja, Britain’s richest man and saviour of Ashok Leyland, leaves a global empire for his successors

Gopichand P Hinduja, chairman of the Hinduja Group and one of Britain’s richest Indians, has died in London at the age of 85. He had been unwell for several weeks.

Hinduja was named the UK’s richest person for the fourth year in a row by The Sunday Times Rich List 2024, with an estimated wealth of £35.3 billion. Tributes described him as an “inspirational figure” and a “true visionary.” Many in the British Indian community said his death marked the “end of an era.”

Building a global business empire

Popularly known as GP, Gopichand Hinduja was the second of four brothers who built their family business into a global company. Born in 1940, he studied at Jai Hind College in Mumbai and graduated in 1959. He started his career in the family’s trading business in Tehran.

The Hinduja Group was founded by his father, Parmanand Hinduja, in 1914. What began as a small trading firm dealing in spices, tea, and carpets in Sindh grew under GP’s leadership into a multinational company operating in 48 countries. The group expanded into many fields, including banking, IT, energy, vehicles, and real estate.

He often said that “next to the impossible, is possible” and believed in growing by diversifying into new areas. For his contributions to industry, he received honorary doctorates from the University of Westminster and Richmond College in London.

Reviving Ashok Leyland

One of GP Hinduja’s biggest successes was the revival of Ashok Leyland. The Hinduja Group bought the struggling truck-maker in 1987, becoming the first major Non-Resident Indian (NRI) investment in India. Under GP’s guidance, the company made a strong comeback and became one of India’s biggest success stories.

This came after another key purchase—the group’s acquisition of Gulf Oil in 1984. GP also led the group’s entry into power and infrastructure, helping plan new energy projects across India.

Building stronger UK-India ties

Gopichand Hinduja worked hard to strengthen business ties between India and the United Kingdom. He often encouraged British companies to invest in India’s growing market. Lord Bilimoria said GP Hinduja “personified” the living bridge between the two countries.

His last major project was the £1.5 billion redevelopment of London’s historic Old War Office—once Winston Churchill’s headquarters—into the luxury Raffles hotel. Opened in September 2023, the project was seen as a symbol of the Hinduja Group’s legacy and its role in linking London with India.

Family leadership and the road ahead

GP Hinduja’s passing comes less than two years after the death of his elder brother, Srichand Hinduja, in 2023. The £15 billion group will now be led by his younger brothers and the next generation.

The leadership team:

Prakash Hinduja continues to head the group’s European operations, while Ashok Hinduja leads the Indian division.

The next generation:

Dheeraj Hinduja (GP’s son) chairs Ashok Leyland.

Sanjay Hinduja (GP’s son) leads Gulf Oil International.

Shom Hinduja (Prakash’s son) heads Hinduja Renewables.

Family unity:

The Hinduja family has faced internal differences in recent years over control and inheritance. A dispute over a 2014 letter—stating that “assets held by one belonged to all”—created divisions, though a peace agreement was later announced.

Their late father’s guiding belief, “Everything belongs to everyone and nothing belongs to anyone,” continues to shape the family’s approach. The real challenge now will be for the next generation to maintain that unity while steering the global business into the future.