Our first formal speaking event of the year promises to be fantastic! On November 29 we have Lord Bilimoria, founder of Cobra Beer coming to speak about his experiences in business. The event will be held on Headington campus, room WLT from 6.30pm.

Karan Bilimoria is an expert speaker on business, leadership and marketing & branding as an entrepreneur Karan is mesmorising at any conference or event he attends.

How Cobra Started
Having qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst and Young, London, and graduated in Law from Cambridge University, Karan Bilimoria developed a less gassy, premium lager brewed to perfectly appeal to both ale drinkers and lager drinkers alike and to complement food. Fifteen years later, Cobra Beer is one of the fastest growing beer brands in the UK and was ranked in the 1999 Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100, a list of the UK’s fastest growing unquoted companies. Cobra Beer was awarded two Grand Gold Medals and nine Gold Medals (more than any other beer company in the world) at the 2005 Monde Selection, Brussels, World Selection of Quality Awards. Monde Selection also presented Cobra with the International High Quality Trophy in 2003 for its achievements.

Other Ventures
In 1999 Karan launched the General Bilimoria Wine brand with wines produced in France. The brand is now the house wine of hundreds of restaurants, including being listed in top Michelin-starred restaurants. A range of South African wines were added to the General Bilimoria portfolio in 2002, and a Spanish range was added in 2004.