Tata Group and Serum Institute Shine in Time’s Top 100 Influential Companies

Time magazine has named Tata Group and the Serum Institute of India (SII), led by Adar Poonawalla, among the top 100 ‘World’s Most Influential Companies of 2024’.

Tata Group, celebrated in the ‘Titans’ category, boasts a vast portfolio that includes steel, software, watches, subsea cables, and more. Established in 1868, Tata has faced fierce competition but has thrived under the leadership of N. Chandrasekaran, appointed Chairman in 2017. Chandrasekaran has steered the group towards tech manufacturing, AI, and semiconductor chips. In 2023, Tata became the first Indian company to assemble iPhones and partnered with Nvidia to develop an AI cloud in India. As of February, Tata’s combined market capitalization reached $365 billion, surpassing the entire economy of Pakistan.

The Pune-based Serum Institute of India, listed under the ‘Pioneers’ section, is the world’s largest vaccine producer, manufacturing 3.5 billion doses annually for diseases like measles, polio, and HPV. CEO Adar Poonawalla attributes their success to private ownership and a focus on access over pricing. SII provides 90% of India’s vaccines and exports globally, although it faced setbacks with Covid-19 vaccine production, leading to the destruction of 210 million doses in 2022.

Time’s recognition underscores the significant global impact of both Tata Group and SII, highlighting their roles in shaping India’s economy and global health.