Karan Bilimoria, Baron Bilimoria

Karan Faridoon Bilimoria, Baron Bilimoria CBE DL (born 26 November 1961) is an entrepreneur and a life peer. He is best known as the founder and chairman of Cobra Beer.

Bilimoria was born in Hyderabad, India. He received the Bachelor of Commerce degree from Osmania University in 1981. After working as a chartered accountant for Ernst & Young, he studied for a Bachelor of Arts degree in law at Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge. [ [http://www.dodonline.co.uk/engine.asp?lev1=4&lev2=38&menu=81&biog=y&id=54211&group=5&Page=Lord%20Bilimoria%20:%20Political%20Biography Biography] from dodonline, retrieved 8 September 2006. Not available directly, but available by following the link from [http://www.parliament.uk/directories/house_of_lords_information_office/alphabetical_list_of_members.cfm House of Lords: Alphabetical List of Members] .]

He founded Cobra Beer in 1989, aiming to create a less gassy lager more suitable for drinking with curry and other foods. In 1999, the company diversified into wine, [ [http://www.cobrabeer.com/press/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4&Itemid=3 Corporate Bakground] from Cobra Beer website, retrieved 8 September 2006.] and as of 2006 has a turnover of £96 million at retail value. [ [http://www.cobrabeer.com/press/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6&Itemid=3 Produce Fact Sheet] from Cobra Beer website, retrieved 17 January 2007.] He received the CBE in 2004 for services to business. [ [http://www.number-10.gov.uk/files/pdf/Queens%20List2789837721.pdf The Queen's Birthday Honours List 2004] (PDF, 628 kB), retrieved 8 September 2006.] In 2005, he became Chancellor of Thames Valley University — the United Kingdom's youngest university chancellor at the time. [ [http://www.tvu.ac.uk/theuni/Governance_and_legal_framework/Governance/chancellor.jsp Biography] from Thames Valley University website, retrieved 8 September 2006.]

In 2006, he was chosen as a cross-bench life peer with the title Baron Bilimoria, of Chelsea in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea by the House of Lords Appointments Commission, becoming the first-ever Parsi in the House of Lords. [" [http://www.cobrabeer.com/press/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=71&Itemid=19 Cobra Beer Founder Karan Bilimoria Becomes First Ever Parsi in House of Lords] ", press release from Cobra Beer website, retrieved 8 September 2006.] In 2008 he was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by the president of India.

tyles and honours

* Mr Karan Bilimoria (1961–?)
* Mr Karan Bilimoria ACA (?–2004)
* Mr Karan Bilimoria CBE ACA (2004–2006)
* The Lord Bilimoria CBE DL (2006–)

References