Ajai Chowdhry

A visionary who cofounded HCL in 1976 with five others, with a dream of using the microprocessor and changing the world. He spearheaded HCL’s expansion into Singapore in 1980, & created a successful business spanning ASEAN, China, and Hong Kong. Today, HCL is valued at an impressive US $50 billion. 
 
In 1995, Ajai took over HCL Infosystems & turned it into a leader in hardware products, systems integration, & mobile telephony (Nokia). Under his leadership over the next 15 years, it grew to become a Rs. 12,000 crore (US $1.6 billion) organization. 
 
Ajai has played a leading role in the establishment of the electronics industry in India, serving on government committees since 1999. In 2009, he chaired a Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MEITY) task force that laid the foundation for the Electronics Policy. 
 
He is Chairman of the Mission Governing Board of National Quantum Mission of India, Distinguished Fellow at NITI Aayog, & Fellow at Indian National Academy of Engineers. He has been nominated by MEITY as a Member to the Advisory Board of India Semiconductor Mission. 
 
In recognition of his efforts to build the IT & Electronics industry in India he was conferred the Padma Bhushan in 2011. He is the recipient of many other awards.