{{short description|Indian businessman}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}} {{Use Indian English|date=January 2015}} {{Infobox person | image = G V Krishna Reddy (Horasis Global India Business Meeting 2010).jpg | name = G. V. K. Reddy | birth_name = Gunupati Venkata Krishna Reddy | caption = G. V. K. Reddy at Horasis Global India Business Meeting, 2010. | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1937|03|22|df=yes}} | birth_place = Kothur, Madras Presidency, British India | spouse = Indira Reddy | children = Shalini Bhupal, G. V. Sanjay Reddy | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Founder, Chairman & MD of GVK Group | awards = Padma Bhushan (2010) | website = {{URL|gvkrishnareddy.com}} }}
'''Gunupati Venkata Krishna Reddy''' (born 22 March 1937) is a philanthropist and entrepreneur. He is the founder and chairman of the GVK Group, a business conglomerate with a predominant focus on infrastructure development.<ref>{{Cite web|title=GVK {{!}} About Us - Board of Directors|url=https://www.gvk.com/aboutus/boardofdirectors.aspx|access-date=2021-06-24|website=www.gvk.com}}</ref>
Reddy also heads GVK EMRI, the corporate social responsibility initiatives of the GVK Group.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-04-03|title=GVK takes over EMRI management {{!}} M&A Critique|work=M&A Critique {{pipe}} The Whys and The Hows |url=https://mnacritique.mergersindia.com/news/gvk-takes-over-emri-management/|access-date=2021-06-24|language=en-US}}</ref> This is an emergency response services provider under a Public-Private Partnership model spread across 15 states and two Union Territories of India. In 2009, he was elected as the Chairman of 108 Ambulance for Andhra Pradesh.{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}}
==Early life and education== G. V. K. Reddy was born on 22 March 1937 in a Telugu family in Kothur Village of Nellore District in Andhra Pradesh.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kumar|first=V. Rishi|title=The builder of all things|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blink/meet/The-builder-of-all-things/article20754400.ece|access-date=2021-06-24|website=@businessline|date=31 January 2014 |language=en}}</ref> Reddy did his basic schooling from his village, early college from Nellore and graduated from Hyderabad. He later completed the Owner/President Management (OPM) Program from Harvard Business School, USA.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thecitizen.in//index.php/en/newsdetail/index/14/19995/who-is-gv-krishna-reddy-a-story-of-an-illustrious-business-career-and-active-social-action-|title=Who is GV Krishna Reddy? A story of an illustrious business career and active social action|work=The Citizen | access-date= February 11, 2021 |last1=Post |first1=Guest }}</ref> GV Krishna Reddy is married to Indira Reddy, and has a daughter, Shalini Bhupal, and a son GV Sanjay Reddy.
==Career== Reddy began his career at the age of 21 by taking over his family construction business.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://corporatecitizen.in/issue16/cover-story-terrific-take-off.html|title= Cover story terrific take off| publisher = Corporate Citizen| access-date= October 16, 2015}}</ref> The starting business was contracting major irrigation projects including bridges, dams, and irrigation canals. His first project included construction of a canal and under the tunnel at Nagarjuna Sagar Right Canal at Adigoppula and Chamarajapuram.<ref>{{Cite web|title='Face Challenges, Work Hard'|url=https://www.businesstoday.in/magazine/from-the-mag/story/face-challenges-work-hard-says-gvk-reddy-founder-and-chairman-gvk-87308-2017-12-23|access-date=2021-10-14|website=Business Today|date=23 December 2017 |language=en}}</ref> Apart from airports, roads, and power, the GVK Group has a presence in the hospitality and life sciences sectors.
In 1990, the GVK Group won the contract to build the Jegurupadu Combined Cycle Power Plant in Andhra Pradesh, which was commissioned in 1997. This was important for the company at the time because before then the biggest project they had handled was a hospitality project in Hyderabad.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Reddy for more challenges|work=Business Today|url=https://www.businesstoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/indias-new-business-families-gvk-reddy-18441-2011-04-13}}</ref>
== Philanthropy == The philanthropic focus of Reddy is driven by the GVK Foundation which formed to serve the underprivileged. The various endeavors of this foundation now extends to urban improvement initiatives and promoting sports talent, particularly in tennis.<ref>{{Cite web|title=GVK Reddy on the motivation behind his charitable causes|url=https://www.femina.in/achievers/people/gvk-reddy-on-giving-back-to-the-society-24837.html|website=Femina}}</ref>
As the President of the All India Senior Tennis Association and a player himself,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Advantage GVK|work=Business Today|url=https://www.businesstoday.in/magazine/network/story/advantage-gvk-241462-2019-12-24}}</ref> Reddy has sponsored, through the GVK Group, young tennis players including Sania Mirza and Pranjala Yadlapalli, as part of a push to produce a world leading player from India.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2013-02-28|title=GVK to sponsor Kirti, Pranjala|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/gvk-to-sponsor-kirti-pranjala/article4459729.ece|access-date=2021-06-24|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
Under his leadership, the GVK Group has focused on environment preservation with the setting up of Deer Park which is spread over 6 hectares at the Jegurupada Power Plant and Botanical Gardens in Mumbai. The group has also adapted environment friendly practices in its constructed plants such as Jegurupada Power Plant, Goindwal Sahib Thermal Power Project, Punjab and waste management in airports.
GVK-EMRI's hospital offered free covid treatment after becoming operational on 7 June 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Staff Reporter|date=2021-06-07|title=Free COVID treatment at GVK-EMRI's hospital|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/free-covid-treatment-at-gvk-emris-hospital/article34753918.ece|access-date=2021-10-14|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> GVK Reddy contributed Rs 1 crore for the construction of Ram Mandir.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-02-10|title=GV Krishna Reddy contributes Rs. 1 crore for Ram Mandir construction|url=https://indiacsr.in/gv-krishna-reddy-contributes-rs-1-crore-for-ram-mandir-construction/|access-date=2021-12-09|website=India CSR Network|language=en-US}}</ref>
==Awards and honours==
* Felicitated by the Turf Authorities of India (TAI) for the lead role played by GVK in India's infrastructure development at the TAI Awards 2019.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/sport/others/dinesh-dagar-knocks-out-former-olympic-bronze-medallist-evaldas-petrauskas/articleshow/68317973.cms |title= TAI breaks tradition, recognizes social feats | publisher = MumbaiMirror| access-date= Mar 9, 2019 }}</ref> * 'Lifetime Achievement Award' at the 'Realty Plus Conclave & Excellence Awards- South 2017'. * "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the Construction Times Annual Awards, 2017. * "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the Construction Week India Annual Awards, 2017. * "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the 6th EPC World Awards, 2017 for a contribution toward infrastructure and construction sectors. *'Padma Bhushan' award in 2011 by then President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sunderarajan|first=P.|date=2011-03-25|title=President presents first set of Padma awards|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/President-presents-first-set-of-Padma-awards/article14962471.ece|access-date=2021-10-14|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> *'Entrepreneur of the year' at ET Awards in 2008–09.<ref>{{Cite news|title=ET Awards 2008-09: Entrepreneur of the Year: GV Krishna Reddy|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/et-awards-2008-09-entrepreneur-of-the-year-gv-krishna-reddy/articleshow/4930993.cms?from=mdr|access-date=2021-10-14}}</ref>
==See also== *GVK Industries
== References == {{Reflist|2}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2010–19}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reddy, G. V. Krishna}} Category:People from Nellore district Category:Businesspeople from Andhra Pradesh Category:Indian billionaires Category:Living people Category:Telugu people Category:Osmania University alumni Category:1937 births Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in trade and industry Category:GVK Group