Mahindra’s Chairman and Managing Director, Anand Mahindra, was conferred with the highest French distinction on 5th March, 2016. The Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour) was awarded to Anand Mahindra by H.E. Francois Richeir, the current France’s Ambassador to India, at his residence. Mr. Mahindra has been recognized as worthy of this honor on account of his extraordinary national and international achievements and initiatives taken by the Mahindra Group.
The Legion of Honour is a highly prestigious award which was created by Napolean Bonaparte himself in year 1802. It is given to any civilian for his or her exceptional services to France irrespective of nationality. Mr. Mahindra currently holds a commercial office in Paris along with a R&D office situated in Toulouse.
In India, Anand Mahindra, Mahindra Group’s Chairman and MD, is counted among the most prominent businessmen; he is the man responsible for making Mahindra a global brand. Under his leadership, a healthy partnership brewed between major French automotive brands (Peugeot, Renault, etc. ) and Mahindra in recent years. He is known for holding proficiencies in a number of fields, one of the prime reasons why the French president invited him to sit in numerous committees and boards. This February, he participated in the Strategic Attractiveness Council in Paris and brought-in approx. 25 company owners from different parts of the world.
Other than his commercial ventures, Anand Mahindra is also known for his unique initiatives for philanthropic causes. He has taken several steps for promotion of primary as well as higher education in India. The foundations of Mahindra Ecole Centrale College of Engineering were laid in Hyderabad in year 2014. It was a result of collaboration between Mahindra Group and Paris located Ecole Centrale Engineering College. The college is dedicated to giving better exposure and technical education to aspiring engineers of India.
