Karan Bilimoria is a British entrepreneur and influential figure in business and public life. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young and graduated in law from the University of Cambridge.
In 1989, Karan founded Cobra Beer, initially intended to be called Panther. He created a premium lager that appealed to both ale and lager drinkers, using high-quality natural ingredients. Starting with significant debt, Karan borrowed funds, including £7,000 from a bank, and imported beer from a brewer in Bangalore, distributing it himself in a Citroen 2CV. The business quickly expanded beyond London restaurants, gaining widespread popularity.
Cobra Beer has received numerous accolades, including 131 Gold and Grand Gold medals in the Monde Selection since 2001. In 2009, Karan entered a joint venture with Molson Coors, the largest family-owned brewer globally. He has served as a Non-Executive Director and Senior Independent Director of Booker Group PLC since 2007 and has been the Chairman of Molson Coors Cobra India Ltd since 2011.
In 2006, Karan was appointed an Independent Crossbench Peer in the House of Lords, becoming the first Zoroastrian Parsi to hold this position. He was honoured as a Commander of the British Empire in 2004 for his contributions to business and entrepreneurship. Karan is the Founding Chairman of the UK India Business Council and has held various educational roles, including Chancellor of the University of West London and fellowships at Cambridge and Oxford.
He is also a founding member of the Prime Minister of India’s Global Advisory Council and lectures extensively on entrepreneurship and the Indo-British relationship. Karan's journey from debt to success exemplifies his dedication to excellence and innovation in business.
