Nasdaq-listed Ebix Inc, a global supplier of software and e-commerce solutions to the insurance industry, has a significant presence in India — over 1,800 staff spread across 11 offices. Its President and CEO, Robin Raina, splits his time between running Ebix in the US and a slew of charitable projects in India through his Robin Raina Foundation. On a recent visit to India, Raina spoke to BusinessLine about his work and philanthropy. Edited excerpts:

Ebix is the largest company in the world in its sphere of work. How did it all start?

I joined Ebix as Vice President in 1998. Back then, the company was losing money. I came up with a new concept. I took the example of the largest airport in the world and the largest airline company in the world. I told the management that I wanted Ebix to become like the airport, and not the airline. You can choose your airline but you cannot choose your airport. We needed to convert Ebix into an airport of insurance. I then chalked out a plan to go about this. The company did extremely well in the next 14-15 years following this business model. Today, Ebix is one of the most efficient companies in the technology world, with shareholder return of 4,300 per cent plus, market capitalisation of over $1 billion, and revenue/topline growth of approximately 2,000 per cent.

You have substantial operations in India. How are they progressing?

I am very proud of our Indian operations. Today, we have 1,800 people and 11 offices across the country. It has become one of the major centres of growth for us. We started here in 2001 and by 2016 we hope to be associated with more than 3,000 people. The growth here has been phenomenal.

What have been your experiences with insurance companies in India?

We initially felt that the Indian market is small but it has grown tremendously in the last few years. In the Indian context, the government sector is equivalent to the private sector. Although in India most of the insurance companies are in the public sector, they are quite efficiently run.

However, the insurance sector in India needs to open up and make way for smoother transactions.

In India, besides insurance, what are the other areas that Ebix is planning to venture into?

India is high up in our expansion plans. Besides insurance, we are eager to tap the Indian healthcare sector.

In the long term, our vision is to create India’s largest online healthcare information exchange. Initially, we intend to create the largest online exchange of health data between doctors and consumers, with tens of thousands of doctors available for medical advice and treatment.

It was in pursuit of this that we acquired the unique Ask a Doctor Service last year, which is India’s largest online medical consultation service.

In addition, A.D.A.M. India, a business unit of Ebix, is focused on providing innovative multimedia and customised health content to clients across healthcare delivery verticals, diagnostics, consumer health, pharmaceuticals and public health.

How do you juggle time between running a Nasdaq-listed company and your charity projects?

It is a fact that whatever is one’s passion, one tends to pursue. Whatever is the top priority for a person becomes important for that person and he takes out time for that work. My number one priority is charity work, second comes my work. I like to help people. I am never going to compromise on my charity work. My work gives me money and charity gives me a reason to spend it.

Tell us about your concept of ‘Compassionate Capitalism’...

‘Compassionate Capitalism’ is a state of mind. Today, everyone is in a hurry to make money, forgetting that it is not going to last forever. It is better to spread what one has. By this I don’t just mean money but joy and happiness.

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