John Shaw, husband of Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, passes away

PTI, Oct 24, 2022, 6:40 PM IST

Image source: Twitter

Bengaluru: John Shaw, the husband of Biocon executive chairperson Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, passed away on Monday at the age of 73.

Shaw, former vice chairman of Biocon, was being treated in a Bengaluru private hospital, where he passed away on Monday, company officials said.

He was under treatment for cancer for some time.

”With profound grief we inform you of the passing away of John Shaw, husband of Kiran Shaw and former vice chairman of Biocon today morning,” an official said.

Kiran Shaw lost her mother Yamini Mazumdar, also an entrepreneur, to cancer in June this year.

A Scotsman and Indophile, John Shaw headed textile manufacturer Madhura Coats before joining Biocon in 1999 where he served as the vice chairman and non-executive director for over 22 years, before retiring in July 2021.

It was in 1998 that Kiran Mazumdar married the 1949-born John Shaw.

He also served as foreign promoter and member of the advisory board of various Biocon Group companies. He was also former managing director of Viyella Group.

Shaw had an honorary doctorate from the University of Glasgow, the same institution from where he pursued his Master of Arts (MA) in history and political economy.

He contributed majorly to the transformation of Biocon from a small enzymes company to a globally recognised biopharmaceutical firm and played an important role in ensuring the highest levels of corporate governance in the company, as well as, in the financial and strategic development of the group.

Mourning his death, former Infosys director T V Mohandas Pai tweeted, “John Shaw, husband of Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, passes away. An extraordinary person, a thorough gentleman, warm, compassionate, always positive, always helpful, loved India, helped build India! We will miss you, John! Om Shanthi.”

Hearty condolences on the passing away of Shri John Shaw, the Member of Advisory Board, Biocon Limited.

May God give strength to Smt. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw & family at this difficult time. I will always remember John Shaw’s warmth and humane nature.

Om Shanti pic.twitter.com/eNk90s0E4s

— Dr. Ashwathnarayan C. N. (@drashwathcn) October 24, 2022