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Harpal Randhawa was an Indian businessman and a billionaire mining tycoon. He was the owner of RioZim, a Zimbabwe-based mining company and a founder of The Global Emerging Markets Group (GEM), a private equity firm. On 29 September 2023, his plane crashed due to technical difficulties, resulting in his passing away along with his son.
Wiki/Biography
Harpal Singh Randhawa was born on Friday, 9 August 1963 (age 60 years; as of 2023) in India. His zodiac sign is Leo. He enrolled at The Lawrence School, Sanawar, Himachal Pradesh, when he was 7 years old. He moved to England in the 1970s. He studied at the City, University of London from 1986 to 1987. He was also a student of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and The Association of Corporate Treasurers.
Physical Appearance
Hair Colour: Salt & Pepper
Eye Colour: Brown
Family
He was born into a family that follows Sikhism.
Parents & Siblings
Harpal Randhawa’s father was a cavalry general belonging to the 7th Light Cavalry in the Indian army. His sister, Iqrup Dhamija, is an interior designer. She is the founder of Iqrup Design, a luxury interior design firm.
Wife & Children
Harpal Randhawa married Shon Randhawa on 10 December 1989. She is an entrepreneur and a co-founder of two luxury fashion brands, Patine and Talitha. Harpal and Shon Randhawa had a son, Amer Kabir Singh Randhawa, born in 2001. He was a trained pilot and a Polo player. He passed away in a plane crash on 29 September 2023.
Relationships/Affairs
Harpal Randhawa met Shon Randhawa in December 1988. After dating together for some time, they got married in 1989.
Religion
Harpal Randhawa followed Sikkhism.
Career
Harpal Randhawa was the founder of The Global Emerging Markets Group (GEM), an alternative investment group focusing on emerging markets worldwide. He served as its chairman from July 1993 to September 2023.
He co-founded Antfactory Limited, a London-based internet and technology investment company, in 1999. He served as its chairman from October 1999 to March 2002. In February 2002, Antfactory was acquired by the stockbroker, Seymour Pierce. From 2002 to 2014, Harpal Randhawa served as a partner in Sabre Capital Worldwide. From 2010 to 2013, Harpal worked as a Senior Advisor in a Dubai-based real estate and private equity investment firm, Safanad Inc. In 2012, Harpal’s company, GEM, acquired 24% shares in RioZim, making him the largest shareholder of the company. RioZim is a Zimbabwe-based company producing gold and coal. The company also toll refines nickel and copper.
Death
Harpal Randhawa passed away on 29 September 2023 due to a plane crash near the Murowa diamond mine in Zimbabwe. The crash happened when Harpal, his son, Amer, and 4 passengers were going from Harare to the RioZim-owned Murowa diamond mine in the Cessna 206 aircraft. It was a single-engine aircraft owned by RioZim. According to Zimbabwe’s newspaper, The Herald, police claimed that the crash occurred between 7.30 a.m. and 8 a.m. Confirming the death of six people, including two Zimbabweans and four foreigners, the police said,
The Zimbabwe Republic Police reports a plane crash which occurred on September 29 between 7.30 am and 8 am, where six people are confirmed dead. The Murowa Diamond Company (RioZim)-owned white and red Zcam aircraft had left Harare for the mine at 6 am and crashed about 6 km from Mashava.”
The police report claims that the plane crash occurred due to a technical fault which may have resulted in a mid-air explosion.
Facts/Trivia
- On 29 August 2019, the Indian embassy in Zimbabwe organised a talk on the life and teachings of Guru Nanak, which Harpal Randhawa gave.
Embassy organised a talk on ‘ Life and teachings of Guru Nanak Dev ji and philosophy of Sikhism’ by Harpal Randhawa, an eminent Indian expatriate. This is the first event in the series of programme planned to commemorate his 550th Birth Anniversary. @MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/PK3BxJ5R1r
— India in Zimbabwe (@IndiainZimbabwe) August 29, 2019
- His company, The Global Emerging Markets Group (GEM) is worth 4 billion dollars as of 2024 and operates several mines in Zimbabwe, including Renco Gold Mine, CAM & Motor Mine, Empress Nickel Refinery, Sperrgebiet Diamond Mine (SDM), Murowa Diamond mine and Sengwa coal mine.