Mohamed Noorani, a stalwart of the Indian Rubber industry, has passed away
India – A passionate promoter of the Indian rubber industry, Mohamed Noorani (86) recently passed away peacefully in his sleep at home, following a period of ill health.
Widely known and greatly respected in both the Indian and international rubber sectors, Mr Noorani was a popular and familiar face at global industry events and was particularly known as the force behind the popular publication and website, the IRJ – the Indian/International Rubber Journal.
Mr Noorani got his start in the industry in the late 1960’s, having received his higher education training in leather technology and business administration in the UK.
In 1962, Mr Noorani joined Bayer (India) Ltd. and spent two years at the company’s complex in Leverkusen, Germany. This was the start of his three decades-long association with the company and an abiding affinity for the country and command of the language. Following a thorough induction into the field of rubber technology, in 1965, Mr Noorani was posted to Kolkatta, at Bayer (India) Ltd.’s Eastern Region for the Rubber and Chemical Divisions. He was transferred to the company’s head office in Mumbai five years later, initially attached to the Chemicals division, before moving to the Rubber Division in 1972 as Marketing Manager.
Mr Noorani enjoyed a long and successful period at Bayer India, culminating in his appointment as Commercial Director of the company. He left Bayer in 1990 to set up a company which served various sectors of the rubber industry.
Prior to establishing his company, Mr Noorani was a consultant with Apollo Tyres Ltd. in the early 1990’s
A stint of serving on the board of first the Indian Rubber Bulletin in Kolkatta, followed by his appointment as Editor of Rubber India, convinced Mr Noorani that the country’s rubber sector deserved truly world-class publications which would showcase the sector. He started the IRJ/Indian and International Rubber Journal in 1994. His relentless belief in the great promise of the Indian Rubber industry drove his passion and he spent the next couple of decades building the publication into an authoritative news and information source. The IRJ was particularly valued for its cover stories and profiles on luminaries, newsmakers and exceptional companies in the global rubber industry.
With the IRJ operating at full strength, Mr Noorani then drew on his rich experience in the industry and started a company dealing in machinery for the tire sector. Noorani Rubber Machinery Company represented leading global firms including the German majors Troester GmbH., Karl Eugen Fischer and TECO of Taiwan, working with leading Indian tire companies.
During his distinguished career, Mr Noorani served on various industry boards and associations. These included positions as a committee member of the-then ARMI, as member of the IRI and as a member of the managing committee of the All India Rubber Industries Association.
Mr Noorani had a steadfast belief in the vast potential of the country’s rubber and tire industry, as well as an ardent advocate of India Inc.
A long-standing member of the Jazz India committee, Mr Noorani enjoyed other wide-ranging interests. He enjoyed traveling with his family, spending time with friends, dining well and watching every conceivable sport. Mr Noorani left an indelible mark on the rubber industry and his absence will be greatly felt.