T Thomas also holds the distinction as the first non-European to serve as a director of Unilever.Mumbai: Former Hindustan Lever Ltd chairman T Thomas has died. He was 90. His funeral service will be held at 3.30 pm on Saturday at St Thomas Cathedral in Fort, Mumbai.
A member of the Kolath family in Kozhencherry, Thomas is the first Malayali to be elevated as the chairman of the Mumbai-based consumer goods company, now renamed Hindustan Unilever Ltd. He also holds the distinction as the first non-European to serve as a director of Unilever.
Thomas joined Hindustan Lever in 1954 after graduating from the Madras University in chemical engineering. He became the company’s chairman in 1973 and a director of the parent company in 1978. He has also served as technical director of MRF.
He has also served on the board of directors of France’s Lafarge International, Britain’s Glaxo International and Indus Ventures.
He was the chairman of the Cathedral & John Connon School and the St Thomas Cathedral in Mumbai. He was the president of the Mumbai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and a national council member of the International Chamber of Commerce.
He is survived by wife, Susie, daughter of Kandathil K M Eapen, former director of Malayala Manorama and former executive director of MRF. His son Sunil is based in New York and daughter Anitha in Dubai.
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