Onkar Kanwar
Onkar Kanwar | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Need valid birth date: year, month, day India |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Chairman of Apollo Tyres |
Onkar Kanwar (born March 1942) is a prominent Indian entrepreneur and serves as the chairman of Apollo Tyres. In addition, he leads Artemis Global Life Sciences, PTL Enterprises, and Premedium Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd as chairman.
Early life
Onkar Kanwar is the eldest child of Raunaq Singh (1922–2002), who co-founded Apollo Tyres.
Career
Following the completion of his studies in business administration and industrial engineering, Kanwar gained professional experience in California and Ohio. This exposure paved the way for a family-supported investment in an Indian pipe manufacturing facility.
Under his leadership, Apollo Tyres transformed from a single manufacturing unit in India into a global enterprise operating seven factories across multiple countries, generating annual revenues surpassing US$3 billion. In 2013, Apollo Tyres pursued a $2.5 billion acquisition of the US-based Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, which would have elevated it to the position of the seventh-largest tyre manufacturer globally; nevertheless, the transaction was ultimately abandoned due to legal obstacles.
Kanwar also owns specialized hospitals branded under Artemis in northern India.
He held the presidency of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) during 2004–05 and presently chairs the BRICS Business Council in India, formed at the 2013 BRICS Summit.
In recognition of his achievements, Kanwar was honored with the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for India in manufacturing in 2012. Hungary conferred upon him its ‘Order of Merit’ in 2018 for fostering economic collaboration between Hungary and India through Apollo Tyres’ investments. Later that year, Japan awarded him the 'Order of the Rising Sun', Gold and Silver Star, acknowledging his contributions to strengthening economic ties between Japan and India and facilitating Japanese corporate presence in India.
Personal life
Kanwar is married with three children and is based in Delhi. His eldest daughter, Shalini, resides in Singapore. His elder son, Raaja Kanwar, holds the positions of Chairman and Managing Director at Apollo International Limited and Apollo Supply Chain, managing an international conglomerate with interests spanning EPC, logistics, automotive components, retail, and lifestyle industries. His younger son, Neeraj Kanwar, occupies the roles of vice-chairman and managing director at Apollo Tyres.