Ness Wadia

Ness Wadia
Wadia in 2007
Born	30 May 1970 (1970-05-30) (age 41)
Alma mater	University of Warwick
Occupation	Businessman
Known for	Managing Director of Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation; Owner of Kings XI Punjab
Parents	Nusli Wadia and Maureen Wadia

Ness Wadia (Gujarati: નેસ વાડિયા; born 30 May 1970) is an Indian businessman belonging to the Wadia family. He is currently the Managing Director of the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation, a company which has holdings in most of the Wadia Group subsidiaries, including an indirect majority stake in Britannia Industries. ^{[1] [2]} He was the Joint Managing Director of Bombay Dyeing, the flagship company of the Wadia Group ^[3][4], till March 2011 when he stepped down from the post. Wadia is a co-owner of the Indian Premier League cricket team Kings XI Punjab along with his ex-girlfriend, actress Preity Zinta.

Early life

He was born into the Parsi Wadia family to Nusli Wadia and Maureen Wadia. He is the grandson of Neville Wadia and Dina Wadia, and the great grandson of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.^[5] Ness has a younger brother Jehangir Wadia, the Managing Director of group companies Bombay Dyeing and GoAir.

After completing his education at the Lawrence School, Sanawar, India, and in England at Millfield School, Ness studied International Relations at Tufts University located near Boston, Massachusetts.^[3]

Career

Wadia initially joined Bombay Dyeing in 1993 as a Management Trainee. During his earlier period he was closely involved in marketing and retail distribution of the textile division of the company and was active in various organisations such as the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL) (a council he once chaired), Millowners’ Association (MOA), Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry, etc.^[6]

In 1998, he took a leave of absence to complete his master's degree in Science of Engineering Business Management from the University of Warwick with a thesis titled "Leading to Success in India". After receiving his master's degree in 2001, he returned as Deputy Managing Director of Bombay Dyeing and was later promoted to Joint Managing Director.^[3] He was appointed to this position on August 1, 2001 and stayed till March 2011, when he stepped down, and younger brother Jeh was made managing director. Ness was appointed Managing Director of Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation. ^[2]

In 1998, 1999 and 2000 he was appointed on the Prime Minister’s Council on Trade & Industry and in September 1998 was appointed the Convenor of the Special Group Task Force on Food and Agro Industries Management Policy in September, 1998.^[6]

Wadia also serves as director on the boards of group companies- Britannia Industries Ltd., Wadia BSN Ltd., and Nowrosjee Wadia & Sons Ltd.^[6] He is also a director of Gherzi Eastern Ltd., Tata Iron & Steel Co. Ltd., Tata Chemicals Ltd., and other companies and is also a member of the Managing Committee of the Nehru Centre in Mumbai.^[6]

In 2008, along with his ex-girlfriend, Preity Zinta, Wadia acquired ownership rights for the Mohali-based Twenty20 cricket team of the Indian Premier League (IPL).^[7] The group paid $76 million to acquire the franchise, and the team was named Kings XI Punjab.^[8]

Personal life

Wadia was dating Bollywood actress, Preity Zinta since February 2005 until 2009.^[9] Their relationship was the subject of frequent media interest, and there were often speculations of either a possible engagement or breakup.^[10][11][12]

References

1. ^ "Bombay Dyeing Management: Jeh elevated, Ness steps down". The Times of India. March 30, 2011. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-30/india-business/29361452_1_jeh-wadia-bombay-dyeing-ness. Retrieved 2011-05-02. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Wadia Group Re-shuffle". MoneyControl.Com. March 30, 2011. http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/cnbc-tv18-comments/management-rejig-at-wadia-group-jeh-ness-wadia-switch-roles_533009.html. Retrieved 2011-05-05. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} "Preity Zinta, Ness Wadia, Karan Paul, Mohit Burman". The Times of India. April 2, 2008. Archived from the original on 2009-05-23. http://web.archive.org/web/20090523205516/http://ipl.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Teams--Profiles/Owners/Preity-Zinta-Ness-Wadia-Karan-Paul-Mohit-Burman/articleshow/2919438.cms. Retrieved 2009-05-09. 
4. ^ "Promoters of Kings XI Punjab". Kings XI Punjab. http://www.kxip.in/page/promoters. Retrieved 2009-05-09. 
5. ^ "Ness Wadia: Photoshoot". The Times of India. http://photogallery.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4085327.cms. Retrieved 2009-05-09. 
6. ^ ^{a b c d} "Bombay Dyeing & Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (BDYN:Bombay Stock Exchange)". Businessweek.com. http://investing.businessweek.com/businessweek/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=13446428&ric=BDYN.BO. Retrieved 2009-05-10. 
7. ^ Bollywood Hungama News Network (January 24, 2008). "King Khan, Preity Zinta bag teams in IPL bidding". indiaFM. http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/2008/01/24/10788/index.html. Retrieved 2009-05-09. 
8. ^ "The Kings XI, Punjab". Sify. http://sify.com/sports/cricket/ipl/kings11punjab/. Retrieved 2009-05-09. 
9. ^ Shaikh, Jamal (February 3, 2005). "Preity woman's man". The Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1010644.cms. Retrieved 2009-05-09. 
10. ^ Lalwani, Vickey; Shah, Kunal (January 25, 2008). "Ness & I are fine:Preity Zinta". The Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ness__I_are_finePreity_Zinta/rssarticleshow/2726680.cms. Retrieved 2009-05-09. 
11. ^ K Jha, Subhash (April 11, 2007). "Preity all set to marry Ness Wadia". indiatimes. http://movies.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1892482.cms. Retrieved 2009-05-09. 
12. ^ "Ness Waida beaten up in SA". hindustantimes. May 20, 2009. http://www.hindustantimes.com/News/tbd/Ness-Wadia-beaten-up-in-SA/Article1-412716.aspx. Retrieved 2009-09-02. 

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Name	Wadia, Ness
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Date of birth	May 30, 1970
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