Anand Mahindra, chairman of the Mahindra Group, has been conferred France’s highest distinction.

H.E. François Richier, ambassador of France to India, conferred the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour) on Anand Mahindra in France on March 5, 2016.

France’s highest civilian distinction comes in recognition of Mr Mahindra’s outstanding national and international achievements and initiatives at the helm of the Mahindra Group. He is recognised as one of the most prominent business leaders in India, who has turned Mahindra & Mahindra into a global company.

Under his leadership, a number of partnerships have been developed, including those between French and Indian industries. This includes the one with carmaker Renault in India; with Peugeot Scooters France, after its acquisition by the Mahindra Group in 2014; and Tech Mahindra’ interests in France (commercial office in Paris, and R&D and engineering centre in Toulouse).

For his wide-ranging expertise, Mr Mahindra is often called on to serve on various boards and committees: at the French President’s invitation, he participated in the Strategic Attractiveness Council in Paris (17 February and 19 October 2014), which brought together 25 company heads from across the world.

Apart from his numerous industry achievements, Mr Mahindra is also known for his philanthropy and promotion of both primary and higher education. In 2014, Mahindra Ecole Centrale College of Engineering was founded in Hyderabad through the joint collaboration of the Mahindra Group and the Ecole Centrale Paris engineering college.