PAUL FAMILY

Mr. Karan Paul

Mr. Karan Paul serves as the Chairman of Apeejay Surrendra Group, where he provides leadership and strategic direction. His responsibilities encompass overseeing financial planning, shaping business strategy, managing diversification into new ventures, and supervising the operations of the Group, including its Tea, Shipping divisions, and Schools.

Mr. Karan Paul embarked on his entrepreneurial journey with the establishment of a finance company and a stock-broking company, which he successfully operated for a decade before their sale in 2006-07. This experience exposed him to the entire business cycle, from inception to a profitable exit, by divesting these Financial Services companies to partners who could further grow and enhance customer trust. Under his guidance, Apeejay Surrendra Group has made substantial investments and expanded into various business verticals, particularly in its core areas of Shipping and Hotels. The Group has also ventured into new business domains, including the Marine Cluster and Logistics Parks, fostering backward and forward integration of the Shipping Business. Furthermore, the Real Estate division has augmented its land banks and significantly expanded commercial real estate developments across India.

Mr. Karan Paul believes in a collaborative and professional approach within the family business, working closely with his sisters, Priya and Priti Paul, in overseeing the growth and management of Apeejay Surrendra. This collaborative ethos extends to the entire Group, where he has fostered a transition from a family-owned concept to a team-oriented structure, backed by a highly professional HR framework. Responsibility and authority are delegated to Group top management, CEOs, and Heads of Departments.

Assuming the role of Chairman in 2004 after 12 years of service within the Group, Karan initiated a consolidation and growth strategy. He upholds the core values of hard work, humane conduct, reliability, trust, integrity, and fairness, which are fundamental to the family legacy. Within a decade of his tenure, Karan established a system of grants for students pursuing higher education in India and abroad through The Paul Foundation, established in 2001. As Chairman, he facilitated Typhoo Tea’s partnership with the English Federation of Disability Sport, promoting accessibility to sports for disabled individuals in the UK. Mr. Karan Paul has crafted a comprehensive strategy that allocates resources to the Social Sector, Education, Environment, and Stakeholder Relations. These initiatives are executed through institutionalized processes at the corporate level, while each Group company actively invests in sustainability and social sector partnerships within the communities they serve.

His vision is for Apeejay Surrendra Group to evolve into and remain one of India’s largest and most profitable privately-owned family businesses. Over the years, he has been an active participant in various Executive Committees of Chambers of Commerce, including CII, FICCI, ICC, Bharat Chamber of Commerce, Bengal Chamber of Commerce. He is also engaged with esteemed trade organizations and professional forums like YPO, YLF, INSA, ITA, among others. Mr. Karan Paul, an alumnus of Brown University, embodies a commitment to excellence and corporate responsibility, and he continues to steer Apeejay Surrendra Group towards greater success.

Ms. Priya Paul

Ms. Priya Paul, an esteemed art collector and design enthusiast, holds the position of Chairperson at Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels in India. Her professional journey commenced under the guidance of her late father, Surrendra Paul, where she assumed the role of Marketing Manager at The Park in New Delhi.Recognized as a prominent businesswoman and a highly respected figure in the hospitality sector, Ms. Priya Paul is the driving force behind the country’s preeminent collection of contemporary luxury boutique hotels, known as The Park. Her unwavering commitment and distinctive creative vision have firmly established The Park as a brand synonymous with innovation and exceptional leadership. Ms. Priya Paul’s influence extends beyond her role at The Park Hotels. She is a founding member of the World Travel and Tourism Council – India Initiative and was appointed as its Chairperson for the year 2013. Additionally, she serves as a Trustee of the India Foundation for the Arts (IFA), assumes the role of Chairperson for the South Asia Women’s Fund, and is a distinguished member of the Harvard Business School’s India Advisory Board. Her contributions to the hospitality industry are further evident through her position as an Executive Committee Member and former President of the Hotel Association of India.

Under her visionary leadership, The Park Hotels have become renowned for their distinctive blend of style, innovation, entertainment, and warmth. These qualities are a true reflection of Ms. Priya Paul’s personality and her passion for contemporary art and design.Ms. Priya Paul’s remarkable achievements have earned her numerous accolades. She was honoured alongside luminaries such as Ian Schrager and Nick Jones at the LE Miami 2015, a pioneering invitation-only travel tradeshow that mirrors the evolving landscape of luxury and contemporary travel. In recognition of her significant contributions to strengthening ties between India and France, Ms. Priya Paul was conferred with the prestigious Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Merite (National Order of Merit) in 2014.

She has also been bestowed with the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honor, by the President of India for her exemplary services to Trade & Industry.

Ms. Priya Paul’s trailblazing career has garnered numerous awards and accolades, including the FHRAI Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2000, Forbes’ recognition as one of India’s 100 most powerful businesswomen in 2006, and the Zee Astitva Award in the Business category in 2008. She was also named ‘Spa Personality of the Year’ for 2009-10 by Asiaspa India, received the India Today Woman in Business Award, and was honored with the PHD Chamber-Distinguished Women Entrepreneur Award for 2009-2010. In 2010, she was inducted into the FHRAI Hall of Fame. Her exceptional design sensibilities have garnered industry-wide acclaim. Ms. Priya Paul received the “Excellence in Design Innovation 2011” award from Condé Nast Traveller India for seamlessly merging her passion for boutique hotels with her love for contemporary art and cutting-edge design. In addition, she was awarded the “Designomist 2011” at VGC Designomics 2011 for crafting distinctive guest experiences worldwide, characterized by a visual feast of design aesthetics and originality in each exquisitely designed boutique hotel. With a quarter-century of experience in the industry, Ms. Priya Paul’s journey has been dedicated to creating the extraordinary, the unconventional, and the indescribable.

She was honored with the Aatithya Ratna Award by Hotel Investment Forum India in 2011, a recognition established to celebrate individuals who exemplify the exceptional spirit of hospitality. In acknowledgment of her significant contributions to the hotel industry over the past 25 years, she was awarded the ‘Hall of Fame 2011’ by Hotelier India. In 2012, Fortune India featured Ms. Priya Paul among the 50 influential businesswomen in India for the second consecutive year. Ms. Priya Paul holds a BA in Economics from Wellesley College and completed the Owner President Management Program at Harvard Business School, reflecting her commitment to lifelong learning and leadership excellence.

Ms. Priti Paul

Ms. Priti Paul, Director of Apeejay Surrendra Group is an accomplished alumna of prestigious institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard University, and the Architectural Association School of Architecture in the UK. She is also affiliated with the Royal Institute of British Architects. She has played a pivotal role in assuming leadership of the century-old Apeejay Surrendra Group following her father’s tragic demise in 1990. Since assuming this critical role, she has taken charge of the Group’s real estate division, overseeing significant expansions and initiatives. Her contributions include the strategic growth of the Oxford Bookstores across India and internationally.

Ms. Priti Paul has also been instrumental in launching India’s pioneering gallery dedicated to new media art, the Apeejay Media Gallery. Her visionary approach has led to the conceptualization, design, and execution of various noteworthy projects, both in India and abroad, including the establishment of the London Office of Apeejay Shipping Limited.Notably, Ms. Priti Paul is the creative force behind the iconic Oxford Bookstore, a cultural cornerstone that has been serving as a hub for intellectual exploration since its establishment in 1921. In 1995, on the platinum anniversary of the Heritage store, she transformed it into Oxford Bookstore – Gallery, redefining the bookstore experience in India and propelling the brand to unparalleled heights across the country. Ms. Priti is appointed to the board of Directors of The Society of Friends of the Guimet Museum for the prestigious Émile Guimet Prize for Asian Literature.

Ms. Priti has been also recently been conferred with the prestigious Ordre National de la Légion d’honneur the National Order of the Legion of Honour formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour, the highest French order of merit, both military and civil.Her creative endeavours extend to literature, where she has crafted “ABC Desi,” an alphabet book infused with distinct Indian charm. The book showcases a meticulous blend of various artistic techniques, rekindling the fading art of billboard painting in India.

“ABC Desi” not only serves as a visual celebration but also stands as a valuable cultural reference and source of inspiration. Ms. Priti Paul is deeply committed to education, particularly for children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. This commitment manifests through her leadership in the Apeejay Anand Children’s Library, which benefits street children and underscores her dedication to fostering learning opportunities. In addition to her significant contributions in business and education, Ms. Priti Paul holds memberships in prestigious organizations Women in Shipping and Trade Association (WISTA) in England, the India Committee of the American Bureau of Shipping in the USA, the FICCI Committee of Art and Business of Art in India, the Harvard Club India, and the MIT Club India.