Sunil Bharti Mittal inducted into Babson Academy of distinguished entrepreneurs

Wellesley: Babson College, the premier business school for entrepreneurship, will honour the entrepreneurial contributions of three international giants, Ernesto Bertarelli, Lee Man Tat, and Sunil Bharti Mittal, from the biotechnology, consumer products, and telecom industries. It plans to enrol them into Babson's Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs (ADE) on Wednesday, 9 April, 2008.

Sunil Bharti Mittal is the group chairman and CEO of Bharti Enterprises Limited, a holding company that includes the largest mobile phone company in India, Bharti Airtel. Bharti is investing $2.5 billion in a new retailing venture in partnership with Wal-Mart, and also has partnerships with Axa for insurance and with the Rothschild family for exporting fruits and vegetables.

Babson graduate Ernesto Bertarelli is former CEO and deputy chairman of the global biotechnology firm Serono SA and winner of the America's Cup for Europe in 2003 and 2007. Bertarelli sold Serono in 2006 to Merck KGaA.

Lee Man Tat is group chairman of Lee Kum Kee Group of China, a renowned food services brand which markets a wide range of savory products to more than 100 countries and regions in the world.

The honoured entrepreneurs will participate in an interactive session with Babson students during the day and will be formally inducted into the ADE during an evening dinner ceremony. Rajesh Bharti Mittal, vice-chairman of Bharti Enterprises will participate in the afternoon panel discussions, and the evening induction ceremony on behalf of his brother, Sunil Bharti Mittal.

Thomas T Stallkamp, Chair, Babson Board of Trustees, will participate in the afternoon panel discussions and will co-host the dinner with Brain M Barefoot, President, Babson College.

Trish Costello, Director, Arthur M Blank Centre for Entrepreneurship, will assist President Barefoot during the induction ceremony.