New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Pharma major Wockhardt Ltd chairman Habil F. Khorakiwala has been elected president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and will take charge later this year after its 78th annual meet. He will succeed Saroj Kumar Poddar, chairman of Poddar Heritage Enterprises, a FICCI statement said Sunday.

Khorakiwala holds a Master's in pharmaceutical science from Purdue University in the US and is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School.

Mr. Habil Khorakiwala founded the company in the early 1960s. Under his stewardship, Wockhardt has grown to be one of the top pharmaceutical companies in India employing more than 4,500 people, spread over nine plants and 12 offices worldwide.

Among India's largest research-oriented and globally competitive pharmaceutical companies, Wockhardt's presence covers more than 90 countries across the globe.

The company is engaged in manufacture and marketing of pharmaceutical formulations, bulk drugs, vaccines, medical nutrition and animal health products and also operates a chain of specialty hospitals.