Karan Bilimoria (Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea) is the founder of Cobra Beer. Having qualified as a Chartered Accountant, Karan Bilimoria developed a less gassy, premium lager brewed to perfectly appeal to both ale drinkers and lager drinkers alike and to complement food. Little more than fifteen years later,... Read more
Karan Bilimoria (Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea) is the founder of Cobra Beer.
Having qualified as a Chartered Accountant, Karan Bilimoria developed a less gassy, premium lager brewed to perfectly appeal to both ale drinkers and lager drinkers alike and to complement food.
Little more than fifteen years later, Cobra Beer is one of the fastest growing beer brands in the UK and one of the most innovative young companies in the country. The brand has a current retail value turnover of £178 million, is sold in nearly 6,000 Indian restaurants, and is available to 6,000 bars, pubs and clubs and in over 12,000 branches of leading multiples, supermarkets and off-licenses throughout the UK. Cobra Beer was awarded a total of 85 Gold Medals between 2003-2011 at the Monde Selection, Brussels, World Selection of Quality Awards – more than any other beer in the world.
Karan Bilimoria started Cobra in 1990 when he was £20,000 in debt and up against all odds. Since that time, Cobra has grown into an operation with offices on four continents and exports to over 45 countries, with brewing operations in five countries. In 2009, Cobra Beer entered into a Joint Venture with Molson Coors, the largest family owned brewer in the world.
Karan is widely respected for his entrepreneurial spirit. He is one of the first two Visiting Entrepreneurs ever appointed at Cambridge University and serves as National Champion of the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship.
He was a member of the Government’s National Employment Panel (NEP), and from 2001 to 2005 was Chairman of the NEP’s SME Board. He was the founding Chairman of the UK-India Business Council (UKIBC) of which he is now President. He lectures extensively in the UK and abroad on entrepreneurship, business, education, and the Indo-British relationship.
Karan Bilimoria has won numerous awards in recognition of his business achievements and charitable work, including the RSA’s Albert Medal in the Society’s 250th anniversary year, 2004. He was also awarded the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in Her Majesty The Queen’s Birthday Honours List, 2004. He was named Entrepreneur of the Year 2003 and Business Person of the Year 2004 by the London Business Awards, Entrepreneur of the Year 2004 at the National Business Awards (London and South East of England) and London Entrepreneur of the Year 2003 (Consumer Products) by Ernst & Young. In 2010, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Non-Resident Indian Institute for outstanding contributions in promoting Indo-British relations.
In 2005, Karan was honoured with the Award for Outstanding Achievement by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales in the Institute’s 125th anniversary year. The same year he helped establish the Cobra Foundation, an independent charity that provides health, education and community support for young people in South Asia.
He was named Man of the Year at the 2006 Drinks Business Awards. He has been awarded honorary doctorates by Brunel University, Heriot-Watt University, Staffordshire University and Cranfield University. In June 2006, Karan was appointed The Lord Bilimoria, of Chelsea.
In 2014 Karan Bilimoria was appointed as the 7th Chancellor of the University of Birmingham.
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You can book Karan Bilimoria through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Karan's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Karan Bilimoria's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Karan tailored to your event.
Karan Bilimoria speaks on a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Karan to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Karan Bilimoria for events worldwide, subject to Karan's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Karan Bilimoria is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Karan can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Karan Bilimoria on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Karan can offer.
Karan Bilimoria delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Karan Bilimoria's areas of expertise include a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. To get a clear sense of Karan's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Karan Bilimoria can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in a range of business, leadership and industry subjects is relevant. Details of Karan's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Karan Bilimoria is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Karan Bilimoria, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Karan's current availability for your dates.