Adar Poonawalla joined Serum Institute in 2001 after graduating from the University of Westminster in London. Then exporting its products to 35 countries, Poonawalla concentrated on the company's international market and getting new products licensed and pre-qualified by the World Health Organization for supply to United Nations Agencies including UNICEF and PAHO. As of 2015, the company exports its products to over 140 countries; 85 percent of its revenues are from overseas. In 2011, he became the CEO of Serum Institute of India with full control of day-to-day operations of the company. In 2012 he played a major role in the acquisition of Bilthoven Biologicals a Netherlands-based government vaccine manufacturing company. In 2017 he acquired Praha Vaccine Limited in the Czech Republic. Poonawalla is a board member of the GAVI Alliance, the global vaccine alliance. He initiated and launched in 2014 Serum Institute's oral polio vaccine, which became a bestseller for the company. Every year he plans to launch a new vaccines for public health starting in 2017. In 2014, it was reported that he planned to expand the product portfolio to include vaccines for dengue, flu and cervical cancer.
News
In 2013, Forbes India named him one of the "Four Scions to Watch Out For". In 2013 he hosted Charles, Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall during a private visit to Serum Institute's manufacturing facility in India. Adar Poonawalla and Cyrus Poonawalla bid £550 million for the Grosvenor House Hotel in London in July 2014. Cyrus Poonawalla group to invest Rs 100 crore for clean Pune initiative Adar Poonawalla Clean City Inaugurated At Serum Institute Of India, Pune By CM Fadnavis Serum Institute eyes European market with new facility; to launch one vaccine a year Poonawalla's clean initiative to take up water purification, toilets for women In 2016, he hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to show what the Serum Institute is doing in the field of Vaccines and other Initiatives at its headquarters in Pune. In 2017, Modi nominated Adar Poonawalla as brand ambassador for Swachh Bharat
Awards
In 2016 : He was listed by GQ Magazine and awarded Philanthropist of the year. In 2017 : He Got Humanitarian Endeavour Award In Hall Of Fame Awards 2017 In 2017 : Adar Poonawalla is Indian of the Year in CSR Business Category | CNN-News18 In 2018 : CM Devendra Fadnavis presents the Business Leader of the Year Award to Adar Poonawala, CEO of The Serum Institute. | ET Edge Maharashtra Achievers Awards 2018 In 2018 : Adar Poonawalla received the CNBC Asia's award for Corporate Social Responsibility of the year | CNBC-TV18 - India Business Leader Awards
