GV Prasad

  GV Prasad is currently the Vice Chairman and CEO of Dr. Reddy's Laboratories.

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Early Life and Education

Prasad, the second child of Syamala and Harischandra Reddy, did his initial schooling at the Vidyaranya High School in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. He later moved to his hometown, Nellore, where he finished his schooling. Prasad shifted to Chennai to study Chemical Engineering at the A C College of Technology, Guindy. Five semesters later, he went on to the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago in the US to complete the remaining 3 semesters. Prasad followed up the engineering degree with a one year MBA at Purdue University. In 1983, he returned to India and joined his father’s construction business.

Career

Prasad spent the next two years managing various construction projects in the Indian state of Karnataka. His first exposure to the world of pharmaceuticals was in 1985 with Benzex Labs, a pharmaceutical enterprise that he co-founded. Benzex was later acquired by Dr. Reddys and Prasad returned to the construction business, only to come back to Pharma in 1990 – this time as the CEO and MD of Cheminor Drugs Ltd. Prasad, infused professionalism, good governance and transparency to transform Cheminor into a world class Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient and Generics manufacturer.

In 2001, Cheminor Drugs merged with Dr.Reddy’s Laboratories and Prasad took over as the Vice-Chairman and CEO of the merged entity. As CEO, Prasad has strategized the metamorphosis of the mid sized pharmaceutical company into a globally respected Pharma major. He has nurtured new lines of business, built a high-talent organization, expanded the global footprint and crafted best-in-class practices in corporate governance.

Prasad is widely credited as the architect of Dr. Reddy’s successful global generics strategy. He envisioned newer business platforms like the Custom Pharmaceutical business and Speciality pharmaceuticals. He has been a strong advocate of his company’s vision to be "a discovery led global pharmaceutical company" and is currently focused on building the innovation side of the business. Prasad has made dramatic and emphatic moves to expand his organization’s size and scale of operations through sustained global alliances and well-calculated mergers and acquisitions.

Prasad has over the years built a diverse, talented and experienced senior management team in India, Europe and the US. A strong believer in his people, he has encouraged dynamic HR practices in the organization. Today, Dr. Reddy’s is widely acknowledged as one of the Best Companies to Work For in India across various ‘best employer’ surveys. Even as he builds business, Prasad strongly champions sustainable development at Dr Reddy's and supports new technologies and investments in transforming Dr Reddy's into an environmentally conscious and socially responsible organization.

Personal Life

Prasad is married to Anuradha, who is the Managing Trustee of the Dr Reddy's Foundation as well as Founder-Director of Saptaparni, an organization for promoting the rich traditions and cultural diversity of India. They have three children.

Hobbies

Prasad has keen interests in history and mathematics. He is also a student of inspirational leadership and an avid nature lover who enjoys watching birds in their natural habitat.

References