Desai, 49-year-old Executive Director of the iconic tea brand, loses life to stray animal menace
Our Bureau
Ahmedabad, India
Parag Desai, a leader par excellence, led from the front to build and grow Wagh Bakri Tea Group from under Rupees 100 crore in 1995 to over Rupees 2,000 crore worth of market value and made Wagh Bakri a household name in India and extremely popular amongst the NRIs. His vision and execution were remarkable. His passing away is not only a loss to the Wagh Bakri Tea Group but also a big national loss.
Desai passed away after suffering brain hemorrhage on Sunday. He was rushed to the Shelby Hospital after he slipped outside his residence, reportedly trying to ward off street dogs that attacked him, on October 15.
A security guard posted outside his house immediately alerted the family members before rushing him to the Shelby Hospital for treatment. As per the reports, he was shifted to Zydus Hospital for surgery, after a day and he is learnt to have died during treatment on Sunday, October 22.
Son of Rasesh Desai, Managing Director of the group, Parag took care of sales, marketing, and exports at the Wagh Bakri Tea. He is survived by his wife and daughter.
Post his MBA from Long Island University, USA, he returned to Ahmedabad and spearheaded Wagh Bakri into the global tea market. A known tea evangelist, he taught many foreigners the art of making a good cup of tea.
Parag was instrumental in modernizing the 104-year-old company founded by his great-grandfather, into a brand famous for its tea lounges and newer products like iced tea and coffee. He was associated with charities like the Blind People’s Association (BPA) and Jivdaya Charitable Trust, which runs an animal hospital in Ahmedabad.
