Harpal Randhawa Wiki, Age, Death, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More

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

Height (approx.): 5′ 8″

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.

Iqrup Dhamija

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.

Harpal Randhawa with Shon and Amer Randhawa

Harpal and Shon Randhawa

Religion

Harpal Randhawa followed Sikhism.

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.

Logo of the GEM Group

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. 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.

Police inspecting the site of Harpal Randhawa’s plane crash

Facts/Trivia