S H Kelkar and Company Limited (SHK), India’s largest India-origin fragrance and flavour company, on Tuesday announced the death of its Chairman, Ramesh Vinayak Vaze, at the age of 85.
Vaze’s association with SHK spanned more than six decades. He joined the family business in 1961 and played a central role in transforming it from an Indian fragrance house into a global fragrance and flavour company with a significant international presence.
A member of the company’s Board since 1981, Vaze held several leadership positions over the years, including Managing Director. Since 2019, he had served as Non-Executive Chairman, continuing to guide the company and mentor its leadership team.
Speaking about Ramesh Vaze, Kedar Vaze, Whole-Time Director & Group CEO, said: “Today is a deeply sad day for all of us at Keva. For more than six decades, my father remained deeply committed to the Company and had an extraordinary passion for fragrances and the craft of perfumery. His emphasis on quality, innovation, and nurturing talent played an important role in shaping Keva into the institution it is today.
'For me personally, he was a father, teacher, and guide. We will miss his presence immensely, but his values, humility, and the legacy he leaves behind will continue to guide Keva in the years ahead.”
A Master Perfumer, Vaze devoted much of his professional life to advancing the art and science of perfumery in India. His understanding of fragrances, customers and markets helped expand SHK’s fragrance capabilities, strengthen its fragrance library and build long-standing relationships with customers in India and overseas.
He was also an early advocate of technology and automation in fragrance manufacturing. Believing that automation could improve accuracy, consistency and efficiency in fragrance compounding, Vaze pioneered its adoption in this country.
