Biocon - Corporate Governance

Corporate Governance

Biocon’s technocrat CMD Kiran Mazumdar–Shaw has nurtured Biocon since its inception in 1978, steering its evolution from a maker of industrial enzymes to a fully integrated biopharmaceutical enterprise with world-class capabilities.

Her efforts in biotechnology have drawn global recognition both for the industry in India and for Biocon and she has been termed India’s Biotech Queen by The Economist and India’s mother of invention by The New York Times. She was recently named among TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world based not only on her contribution to the biotech industry but also because she gives back to the community. Ms Shaw features on the Forbes list of ‘The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women’ and in Financial Times’ ‘Top 50 Women in Business’ list

A pioneer of the Indian biotech sector, Ms Shaw wants to create a global leadership profile for India’s biotech industry. Hence, she engages with the government to shape policies for the sector. Her determination to create a research ethos in India has seen her getting involved with academia. Ms Shaw chairs Karnataka’s Vision Group on Biotechnology and also served on the Board of Science Foundation, Ireland. She serves on the Advisory Council of the Government’s Department of Biotechnology and is part of the Prime Minister’s Council on Trade & Industry in India and the US–India CEO Forum. She serves as Member, Governing Body and General Body of the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, an Autonomous Body of the Government of India. She is a founder member of the Society for the formation of ‘Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine’. She has been nominated as Member of the Board of Trade, Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

Ms. Shaw is the recipient of several prestigious awards including the Nikkei Asia Prize, 2009 for Regional Growth, Express Pharmaceutical Leadership Summit Award 2009 for Dynamic Entrepreneur, The Economic Times ‘Businesswoman of the Year’, the ‘VeuveClicquot Initiative For Economic Development For Asia, Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Life Sciences & Healthcare, ‘Technology Pioneer’ recognition by World Economic Forum and The Indian Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award. She has received two Indian national awards—Padma Shri (1989) and Padma Bhushan (2005) for her pioneering efforts in Industrial Biotechnology.

Born on 23 March 1953 in Bangalore, Ms. Shaw received a graduate honors degree in Zoology from Bangalore University (1973) and qualified as a Master Brewer from Ballarat University, Australia (1975). She received an honorary Doctorate of Science in 2004 from Ballarat University in recognition of her contributions to biotechnology.

Active on the corporate social responsibility front, Ms. Shaw set up the Biocon Foundation in 2004. Recently, she contributed Rs 40 crore to help establish the presently 500-bed Mazumdar–Shaw Cancer Center in Bangalore. In an interview, she stated: “The way I have looked at it is that business is very mercenary and you’ve got to balance it with some missionary aspect. To me corporate social responsibility is getting that balance right that you got to make sure that you invest in the community that supports your business.”

Apart from her interested in the civic well-being of Bangalore, she is an avid art collector. She is married to John Shaw who headed leading textiles MNC Madura Coats from 1991 to 1998 as Chairman and Managing Director.

The members of the Board of Directors are

• Dr. Neville Bain – Chairman, Institute of Directors, UK; Board Member, Scottish & Newcastle Plc., Provexis Ltd
• Prof. Charles L. Cooney – Professor, Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA; Director, Genzyme Inc
• Dr. Bala S. Manian – Chairman and Founder, Reametrix Inc.; Co-founder, Quantum Dot Corporation and Surromed Corporation, USA; and Expert in the design of electro-optical systems
• Mr. Suresh Talwar – Partner, Talwar Thakore & Associates; Director, Cadbury India Ltd., Blue Star Ltd., L&T Ltd. and other leading companies
• Ms. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw – Chairman & Managing Director, Biocon; First generation entrepreneur with more than 32 years of experience in biotechnology and industrial enzymes
• Mr. John Shaw – Vice Chairman, Biocon; Served in senior corporate positions at various locations around the world; and Former Chairman, Madura Coats Ltd.
• Prof. Ravi Mazumdar – University Research Chair Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo, Canada
• Prof. Catherine Rosenberg – Alternate Director, Biocon; University Research Chair Professor and Chairman, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo, Canada