Described as a “workaholic,” who seldom takes holidays, Liberty House Group executive chairman Sanjeev Gupta, was born in the state of Punjab, in northern India in 1971.
The third of four children, he is the son of Indian tycoon Parduman K Gupta, whose business interests included the Victor Cycles company.
After a spell at a boarding school in the Himalayas, he was sent to board at St Edmund’s College Canterbury, in England, at the age of 14.
Following a gap year selling bicycles for his father in Turkey, Mr Gupta went to Cambridge University to study economics and, later, management. While still a student he set up Liberty House trading company.
From early days trading in commodities ranging from chemicals to frozen chicken feet, the company has burgeoned into an international business empire. With offices in 30 countries, a global workforce of more than 4000, and turnover approaching £6billion it specialises in commodities as well as the manufacture of steel, aluminium and advanced engineering products.
During the recent financial crisis, Mr Gupta moved to Dubai, “to focus more on the east and Asia.” He has since returned to the UK and lives in Chepstow, Wales, with his wife Nicola and four children.
Since 2013, Liberty House Group has pursued a strategy of rescuing and reviving major steel, engineering and power generation operations across the UK. It has acquired and relaunched more than 20 businesses, saving 2,000 jobs.
