Asian Paints' Ashwin Dani passes away

Dani was conferred with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Indian Paint Association (IPA) in 2011.

Ashwin Dani, a second-generation scion of the family that co-founded Asian Paints and served as the non-executive director of the company, passed away on September 28 at the age 79, reported CNBC-TV18.

Dani started his journey at Asian Paints in 1968 as a senior executive and rose through the ranks to eventually lead the company. Dani’s contribution was instrumental to the company's growth as the largest paint maker in the country with a group turnover of Rs 21,700 crore.

As of 2023, Ashwin Dani's net worth is estimated to be approximately $7.1 billion, according to Forbes.

He was born on September 26, 1944, in Mumbai. In 1966, he completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Mumbai University. After that, he went to the US to pursue a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Akron. He started his career as a chemist in Detroit. Later, in 1968, he joined his family business, Asian Paints, in 1968 as a senior executive.

Over the years, Dani held a number of positions with the business, including director (research and development), works director, full-time director, vice-chairman, and managing director. Dani was known for using research and development to provide cutting-edge concepts to the business and the paints sector.

Ashwin Dani pioneered the concept of computer color matching, now extensively applied in industries such as paints, plastics, printing inks, and textiles. Additionally, he is acknowledged for creating groundbreaking products like Apcolite Natural Wood Finish, an innovative finishing system for wood surfaces, and the Automotive Refinishing System, a fast-drying alkyd enamel widely adopted in the automobile aftermarket segment.

At the 18th edition of the CNBC-TV18 India Business Leader Awards in May this year, Dani highlighted the significance of customer-centricity in Asian Paints' success, adding that prioritising customer needs and preferences was essential to the company's continued growth and prosperity. This customer-centric approach aligns with the broader philosophy that places the customer at the centre of the company's strategies, innovations, and service delivery.