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MSI Announces Retirement of CEO Manu Shah

January 18, 2023

M S International, Inc. (MSI) has announced that after a 47-year career as founder and CEO, Manu Shah is retiring from MSI.

Shah’s journey as a successful CEO started with humble beginnings in India as the last of nine children. At the age of 22, he set out to pursue the American dream. A year later, in 1968, he received a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University. A few years later, in 1971, he married his wife Rika, creating the ultimate dream team.

In 1975, the power couple formed MSI in the basement of their home in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Working as an engineer during the day and on MSI at night, while their children Raj and Rup were sleeping, Shah diligently started exporting microprocessors and memory chips. When exporting dried up, he began importing granite. By 1982, the duo completed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

A year later, Shah quit his job as an engineer to dedicate his full-time efforts to MSI, becoming the official CEO. In 1984, he moved his family and MSI to Southern California so the company could be close to a port city. Within a short year, MSI surpassed $1 million in annual revenues and in 1987, the Shahs opened the first MSI Warehouse in Santa Fe Springs, California. The company is now headquartered in Orange, California.

After trials and tribulations, the Shahs have built a successful organization with $2.8 billion in revenue, supporting the lives and livelihoods of more than 3,000 worldwide employees. As a top private company in the U.S., the company has more than 45 showrooms and distribution centers in greater North America. As a top 20 importer in the U.S., MSI features 10 product lines with thousands of on-trend products. As a leading employer, MSI helps support more than 400,000 families and 1.6 million people around the world.

While Shah has had much success over the last 47 years, he has never lost focus of philanthropic efforts and giving back to the community locally and globally. He plans to continue his philanthropic efforts in his retirement in addition to spending even more quality time with his grandchildren.

“Success is a never-ending journey, it’s like climbing a mountain,” said Mr. Shah. “When you reach the top of the summit and look below, you forget all the pain it took you to reach the top. You see the beautiful surroundings below and look forward to the other mountains yet to climb. You have to keep climbing, sometimes fast [and] occasionally slow, and start fresh every day.

“Thank you, Team MSI for continuing our mission of Making Dream Surfaces Attainable. I look forward to this company growing forever.”

Shah will officially have the title of CEO emeritus and will serve to advise and coach many leaders at MSI including his sons Raj and Rup Shah. Co-presidents Raj and Rup Shah are the successors and have officially been promoted to serve as co-CEOs.