Meher Pudumjee is the current Chairperson of Thermax, taking over from her mother (Anu Aga) in 2004. She is a post graduate in chemical engineering from the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London and joined Thermax in September 1990, and is also a member of the Confederation of Indian Industry's (CII) Family Business Forum and the Young Indians (YI).
Background
Meher was born in 1966 in Pune, India.
She has been brought up in a family where education has been given the strongest value. Her parents always believed that if you educate someone, it’s the best gift you can give them. Apart from values that her parents instilled in her at a young age, they also taught Pudumjee the freedom to make choices. There was never any obligation for her to join the family business, either while growing up or when she went to study engineering at the Imperial College London.
But as fate would have it, by the time she graduated, her courtship with her fiancé (Pheroz Pudumjee, now her husband) was well underway and that pulled her back to India in 1990. That was also the first time she showed interest in joining Thermax, where she started as a trainee, along with 100 other engineering graduates that year.
Education
Meher studied at Imperial College of Science & Technology at the faculty of the chemical engineering. He became a Master.
Career
Mrs. Meher Pudumjee has been Chairperson of Thermax Limited since October 5, 2004. Mrs. Pudumjee served as Vice Chairperson of Thermax Ltd. until October 5, 2004. She serves as Director of Thermax Limited. She has been Independent Director of Crompton Greaves Ltd. since July 26, 2007. Mrs. Pudumjee holds Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College of Science & Technology, London.
Views
1) Bring passion and commitment for what ever you take on – since passion is contagious and inspire others.
2) Attract the best talent and do not be threatened by the people better than you.
3) Develop listening skills.
4) Humility and wisdom – to ask for when you need it; knowing your limits.
5) Ability to encourage entrepreneurship. And not being afraid to make mistakes and learning from them – thinking long term.
Interests
Choral singing, piano playing.
Music & Bands
Western classical music
Connections
Meher married to Pheroz Pudumjee. They have a daughter: Lea Pudumjee.
a father:
Rohinton Aga
Rohinton, headed it the Thermax till 1996, when he died of a massive stroke.
a mother:
Anu Aga
Anu Aga (born 1942) is an Indian businesswoman and social worker, who led Thermax Ltd., the INR32.46 billion (US$600 million) energy and environment engineering business, as its chairperson 1996–2004. She had figured among the eight richest Indian women, and in 2007 was part of 40 Richest Indians by net worth according to Forbes magazine.
a husband:
Pheroz Pudumjee
In 1992 Pheroz Pudumjee undertook their first directorship role at the age of 30 for a company called "Therm Energie Limited". M E Engineering Limited is Pheroz Pudumjee newest non-secretarial directorship, where they have held the position of "Company Executive" for 12 years, 9 months, 17 days. This company has been around since 2000.
