Pawan Kumar Ruia is the Chairman of Ruia Group. He was born on 10th December 1958 in Pipri, Uttar Pradesh, India. He was a bright student and an art lover from his early days. He is also known for being one of the best collectors of paintings and sculptures, which is evident from his neatly decorated office and residence. Ruia graduated from St. Xavier's College, Calcutta. Post his graduation, he completed his LL.B. from the Calcutta University.

With a degree in Charted Accountancy, Pawan Kumar Ruia started his career in the same field. However, he soon decided to tread on a different path and establish Ruia Cotex, a textile manufacturing company. After the establishment of his first company, Ruia went on to set up Kamplapur Sugar Industries, a project worth Rs 80-crore.

Laying the foundation of Ruia Group in 1993, Pawan Ruia decided to delve deep into the entrepreneurial orbit. In 2003, Pawan Ruia made a bold move to acquired Jessop and Company. He turned around the 220-year-old engineering giant, which was facing a downfall. The company soon started making profits within a short span of time. From negative balance sheets, Jessop had a net profit of Rs 100 million in 2 years.

Pawan Ruia silenced all the critics who thought of the acquisition to be an unwise move. However, he didn't stop here, as the journey only got better with time. Ruia took over two of the biggest names in the tyre industry. Both the companies were at their lowest, but Ruia had complete faith in his vision and expertise to turn the ailing companies around. He started making gradual changes in both the companies.

Within a short span of time, all the 4,000 employees of one of the tyre companies were re-employed, the labour was secured, the legal glitches were resolved and the production began in full swing.Both the companies started to thrive in the midst of a crippling economic downturn.

Through the career of Pawan Kumar Ruia, one thing that has stood out is the determination of the ‘turn around tycoon’. He not only changed the paradigm of certain companies, but also impacted many lives. Ruia has always paid great attention towards the betterment of the society, customers, employees, shareholders, communities, and environment at large. He has gone beyond statutory obligations to uplift various unprivileged sections of the society.

The courage of Pawan Ruia to rebuild the ailing companies has been exemplary to say the least. Being a pioneer in the tyre and heavy engineering industries, he has established Ruia Group as a successful corporate citizen, setting a new benchmark for others to follow the suit.