M.V. Murugappan, the senior-most member of the Murugappa family and former Chairman of the group’s firm Carborundum Universal Ltd (CUMI), died on Tuesday night after a brief illness.
He was 81 and is survived by wife, two daughters and grandchildren.
Murugappan had spent his initial years in the construction business and was the managing director of Coromandel Engineering Company Ltd.
He was also instrumental in setting up Coromandel Prodorite Ltd.
In 1979, he took over as managing director of Carborundum Universal Ltd. From 1995, Murugappan was the Chairman of CUMI, a position he held till his retirement in 2004.
Murugappan served on the Managing Committee of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India for several years.