Gopichand P. Hinduja, the esteemed Chairman of the Hinduja Group and a highly influential figure in global business, passed away at the age of 85 in a London hospital. Known affectionately as 'GP' in business circles, he had been unwell for several weeks. His demise marks the end of an era for a leader who significantly shaped a vast multinational conglomerate.

Born in 1940 in India, Gopichand was the second son of Parmanand Deepchand Hinduja, who established the family business in 1914. He, along with his brothers Srichand, Prakash, and Ashok, was instrumental in building and expanding the Hinduja family's business empire across continents. His elder brother, Srichand Hinduja, had passed away in May 2023, following which Gopichand assumed the role of Chairman of the Hinduja Group. Gopichand Hinduja was an alumnus of Bombay’s Jai Hind College, graduating in 1959. He also received honorary doctorates from the University of Westminster and Richmond, The American International University in London, recognizing his significant contributions to global industry and philanthropy.

Gopichand Hinduja joined the family enterprise in 1950, or 1959, the same year he graduated, starting in the textile and trading business across India and Iran. Under his astute stewardship, the Hinduja Group transitioned from its origins as an Indo–Middle Eastern trading house into a diversified global conglomerate. His leadership was characterized by strategic diversification, disciplined expansion, and a long-term vision focused on stability and value creation. Key milestones under his guidance include the acquisition of Gulf Oil in 1984 and the successful turnaround of the then-struggling Ashok Leyland in 1987, which marked the first major NRI investment in India and is known as one of the most successful turnaround stories in business history. Before becoming Chairman of the Hinduja Group, he served as Chairman of Hinduja Automotive Ltd, UK.

Today, the Hinduja Group operates across eleven diverse sectors, including automotive, banking and financial services, information technology, healthcare, real estate, power, and media and entertainment. Flagship companies such as Ashok Leyland, IndusInd Bank, and NXTDIGITAL Limited exemplify the group’s innovation and global footprint, which spans across 38 countries and employs over 200,000 people.

Gopichand Hinduja is survived by his wife, Sunita; sons, Sanjay and Dheeraj; and daughter, Rita. His surviving brothers, Prakash and Ashok Hinduja, continue to lead the group’s operations in Europe and India, respectively. Gopichand Hinduja was recognized as the richest person in the United Kingdom for seven consecutive years, a testament to his immense success.

Tributes poured in from around the world following his passing. UK lawmaker Rami Ranger described him as "one of the most gracious, humble, and loyal friends," stating that his death "marks the end of an era" and highlighting his commitment to the community and India.

In 2022, the Hinduja family reached a worldwide truce in a long-standing legal dispute concerning the health and affairs of Gopichand’s elder brother, Srichand P. Hinduja, who was suffering from dementia. The resolution followed protracted legal battles across various jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Jersey, which were all amicably withdrawn after the family agreed to end all existing disputes.