Henning Holck-Larsen | |
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 Holck-Larsen on a 2008 stamp of India | |
| Born | (1907-07-04)4 July 1907 Frederiksberg, Denmark |
| Died | 27 July 2003(2003-07-27) (aged 96) Mumbai, India |
| Known for | Founder ofLarsen & Toubro |
Henning Holck-Larsen (4 July 1907 – 27 July 2003) was aDanish-born Indian engineer who co-founded the engineering firmLarsen & Toubro (L&T) along withSøren Kristian Toubro (27 February 1906 – 4 March 1982).[1]
Holck-Larsen was educated at theUniversity of Copenhagen (and what is now theTechnical University of Denmark). He came toIndia in 1937 as a chemical engineer working forF. L. Smidth & Co. ofCopenhagen. Partnering with his former schoolmate and fellow employeeSøren Kristian Toubro, he set upLarsen & Toubro in 1938. The idea of L&T was conceived during a holiday inMatheran, a hill station nearMumbai.[2] Holck-Larsen was a risk-taker while Toubro was more conservative.[3] Holck-Larsen and Toubro saw opportunities in India at a time when few Europeans had realised the country's potential for industrial growth.
The first office of L&T, located in Mumbai, was so small that only one of them could use it at a time.[4] Initially, L&T represented Danish dairy equipment manufacturers. However, the Danish imports were restricted during theWorld War II, forcing L&T to start a small workshop that provided servicing and undertook small jobs. The imports stopped after theGerman invasion of Denmark, forcing L&T to start manufacturing dairy equipment indigenously, a move that was successful.[4]
Seeing opportunity in ship repair during wartime, Holck-Larsen and Toubro formed a new company called Hilda Ltd. Around this time, L&T also started two repair and fabrication shops. The wartime internment of German engineers who were supposed to build a soda ash plant for theTatas provided L&T another new opportunity.[4]
In 1944, Holck-Larsen and Toubro established Engineering Construction & Contracts (ECC). L&T started collaborating with international companies around this time. In 1945, it signed an agreement with theCaterpillar Tractor Company of USA for marketing earthmoving equipment. L&T also started representing British manufacturers of equipment used to manufacture a variety of products including biscuits, glass, hydrogenated oils and soaps.[4] At the end of World War II, the war-surplus Caterpillar equipment was available in bulk at low prices. However, L&T lacked the money to purchase them. Therefore, Holck-Larsen and Toubro decided to raise additional equity capital, and as a result, Larsen & Toubro Private Limited was established on 7 February 1946.[4] After India gained independence in 1947, L&T set up offices inCalcutta,Madras andNew Delhi.
He naturalised as a citizen of the Republic of India in 1950, giving up his Danish citizenship.
Holck-Larsen and Toubro gradually transformed L&T into a large business house with diverse interests, and went on to become one of the most successful Indian companies.[citation needed]
He later wedded his wife Karen at theChurch of St Andrew and St Columba.[5] After retirement, Holck-Larsen served as the chairman emeritus of the company. He used to call India his "adopted homeland" and divided his time between Denmark and India.[6] He died in 2003 at the Breach Candy hospital,Mumbai.[7][citation needed]
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