Early Life
G.V. Prasad was born in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India, in 1960. He completed his schooling in Hyderabad and pursued higher education in chemical engineering. He studied at Alagappa College of Technology and later the Illinois Institute of Technology. Prasad furthered his education with an MBA from Purdue University in 1983.
Rise to Success
In 1985, Prasad co-founded Benzex Labs, a pharmaceutical enterprise. Benzex was later acquired by Dr. Reddy's Laboratories. From 1990, Prasad served as the CEO and MD of Cheminor Drugs Ltd. In 2001, Cheminor Drugs merged with Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, and Prasad became the vice-chairman and CEO of the merged entity. Prasad is credited with transforming Dr. Reddy's Laboratories into a global generics powerhouse. He has also envisioned new business platforms like custom pharmaceuticals and specialty pharmaceuticals.
Key Business Strategies
Prasad's leadership at Dr. Reddy's has been marked by an emphasis on innovation, transparency, business ethics, and a flatter corporate structure. He has spearheaded the global expansion of the company and has focused on building strong research and development capabilities. His strategic decisions have helped Dr. Reddy's establish a significant presence in regulated markets like the United States and Europe. Prasad has also emphasized the importance of sustainability and has led the adoption of green technologies and processes within the company.
Philanthropy
G.V. Prasad is involved in philanthropic activities, supporting causes that he holds dear. He is the Chairman of Dr. Reddy's Institute of Life Sciences and has been involved with the Andhra Pradesh chapter of the Worldwide Fund for nature and the Acumen Fund, a non-profit venture focused on eliminating global poverty.
