Born in Calcutta, India, in 1958, Aloke Lohia belongs to a globally networked family of Marwari heritage, known for its entrepreneurial drive and vast industrial enterprises. He received a formal, rigorous education in India, graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Delhi. This academic grounding in business and finance prepared him for the complex dynamics of international trade and manufacturing.

Lohia’s journey to becoming a global chemicals titan began not in India, but in Indonesia, where he started his professional life. From 1979 to 1987, he served as the Finance Director of P.T. Indorama Synthetics, a family-connected enterprise. This hands-on experience in one of Asia’s largest industrializing economies provided him with invaluable insights into manufacturing processes, supply chain management, and the financial intricacies of large-scale chemical production. It was this Indonesian apprenticeship that would ultimately inspire his decision to branch out and establish his own industrial base in Thailand, setting the stage for his global empire.

Aloke Lohia’s career is a model of calculated global expansion through strategic mergers and acquisitions. In 1988, he moved to Thailand to found his own venture, starting with a niche worsted wool business under the name Indorama Holdings in 1994. The critical pivot came in 1995 with the establishment of Thailand’s first PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) business, Indorama Polymers. Lohia recognized the burgeoning global demand for PET, the plastic used in bottles and synthetic fibers, and centered his future on dominating this market.

His genius lay in the execution of a ‘buy-and-build’ strategy. While competitors built new facilities, Lohia purchased and revitalized existing, often struggling, chemical and polyester plants worldwide. This highly acquisitive model allowed Indorama Ventures to rapidly expand its global footprint, gaining market share, intellectual property, and experienced personnel at speed. By the time he listed the parent company, Indorama Ventures PCL (IVL), on the Stock Exchange of Thailand in 2010, it was already a global leader in PET manufacturing. He transformed a local Thai company into a powerhouse, expanding its presence to over 30 countries and making IVL one of the world's Top 30 chemical companies.

Aloke Lohia and his wife, Suchitra, are deeply committed to social impact, with their efforts often concentrated in the communities where Indorama Ventures operates. Their philanthropy reflects a dedication to education, healthcare, and cultural preservation, particularly in Thailand and India.

His most significant social contribution is through his corporate commitment to sustainability and the circular economy. As the head of the world's largest PET producer, Lohia is at the forefront of the plastic recycling movement, investing hundreds of millions of dollars in developing and operating recycling facilities globally. This strategic environmental focus addresses one of the planet's most pressing waste problems, turning business strategy into a large-scale social benefit. Personally, he holds an Honorary Doctoral Degree of Business Administration from a Thai university, symbolizing his contribution to the local educational and industrial landscape.

Aloke Lohia’s style is that of a modern, well-traveled international industrialist. His wardrobe is consistently high-quality, featuring sharp, tailored suits in muted colors that project professionalism and stability. He avoids the ostentatious displays of new money, preferring a discreet elegance that speaks to the scale of his global operations rather than his personal consumption.

His lifestyle is inherently global, anchored in Bangkok, Thailand, where IVL is headquartered, but requiring frequent, executive-level travel to manufacturing hubs and markets across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. His residences and transportation, while undeniably luxurious, are tools of global efficiency. The true indulgence for Lohia is the continuous process of strategic empire-building—the acquisition of new plants, the implementation of cutting-edge recycling technology, and the command of a complex, vertically integrated global supply chain in an essential commodity sector.