A name behind the company that gave us hope when the whole nation was battling with the epidemic. Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India(CII) in Pune which produced the “Covishield” vaccine by entering into an agreement with Britain’s Oxford AstraZeneca company.
Serum Institute of India is the world’s largest manufacturer of vaccines, it has produced vaccines for Polio, BCG vaccine for Tuberculosis, Tetanus, Diphtheria, etc.
Adar Poonawalla graduated from Westminster University, London. After his graduation he joined Serum Institute of India, it is founded by his father in 1966 Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla. He expanded the company with his new ideas.
After joining he emphasized on International Market and concentrated on getting his products licensed by World Health Organization and supplied to United Nations Agencies like PAHO and UNICEF. Now the company is at par in exporting its products to different countries and generates maximum revenues from International Market.
Adar Poonawalla became CEO
He became the CEO of the company in 2011 and took complete authority over the day-to-day activities of the organization. In 2012 he attained the biggest achievement by acquiring Bilthoven Biologicals, which is Netherlands- based government vaccines, bioengineering, and pharmaceutical company.
With this, he also obtained an essential manufacturing base and access to main European and US markets.
Serum Institute of India and circulation of Covishield Vaccines
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Undoubtedly SII is the country’s number one pharmaceutical company which provides its products in the budget of customers. Adar Poonawalla is a visionary man who provides products at the right time, the right situation, and the right place.
His organization has millions of doses of Covishield vaccine, whose parent company is AstraZeneca and Oxford University. His firm has made products not only for India but also for many middle and low-income nations.
Covishield shield vaccines have really helped poor nations as it’s a cost-effective and affordable product. Though it was a leader in vaccines before Covishield also but now it has made its brilliant mark and can be considered as a king of Pharmaceutical Company.
Prominent Awards and News of Adar Poonawalla
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- Recently Adar Poonawalla received the Biggest Award for Entrepreneur of the Year at “ The Economic Times Award for Corporate Excellence 2020”. He was at cloud 9 after receiving this award, He said he never thought that suddenly a year back “I have to face the contingency, raise funds and take huge risks” but now I express my sincere gratitude for being honored with such a prestigious award and recognized for my hard work and contribution.
He also said, he was a businessman before, this year actually turned me into an Entrepreneur.
- Poonawalla made his presence in being one of the six “The Straits Times Asians of the Year” for 2020 by Singapore’s daily, The Straits Times, for contribution in combating the Covid-19 pandemic.
- He also appeared in Fortune magazine’s ‘40 under 40’ influential people in healthcare category as the Emerging Leader”.
- Adar Poonawalla recently made the headlines for acquiring an expensive property in Mayfair, London on rent, for approx 50,000 pounds ($69000) a week. Mayfair is one of the exorbitant Districts of London and the world.
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Thus Adar Poonawalla can be rightly said as a Wise Business Leader who took the appropriate decision at the right time, he kept in mind the needs and scenario of the people and gave us a light of hope in emergency situations.
He faced economic challenges in a systematic way and took discerning steps. He is always ready to tackle the contingencies, that’s why when the fire broke in an under-construction building, he didn’t fear and confidently tweeted that there will be no effect on COVISHIELD production as there are many buildings reserved to deal with such uncertainties.