Anand Mahindra, vice chairman and managing director of automobile major Mahindra and Mahindra, was on Thursday honoured with the "Ordre National du Merite" by the French government.
Acknowledging the contribution of Mahindra to the corporate world, French Minister for External Trade Francois Loos bestowed the honour on him in the name of President Jacques Chirac.
The "Ordre National du Mérite", instituted in December 1963, is intended to reward distinguished merit, said a statement issued by the French embassy in New Delhi.
Loos said Mahindra not only brought success to his company but also conveyed the values of corporate citizenship within and outside the group and played a very important role for India.
Former Indian foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal, Atomic Energy Commission chairman Anil Kakodkar and Godrej Industries managing director Nadir Godrej have been previous recipients of this honour.