Jimmy Bilimoria was born on January 27, 1947. He is a Bachelor of Commerce from Bombay University and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, England & Wales.

Jimmy Bilimoria started his career in 1975 as an Audit Manager in Josolyn Layton Bennett & Co., UK. He joined Sandoz India in 1977 and worked there for 10 years in various capacities in the Marketing, Exports and Finance divisions. He joined Hindustan Ciba Geigy Ltd. as Vice President, Finance in 1990 and became Finance Director and member of the Board of Directors on formation of Ciba Speciality Chemicals (India) Ltd. (now Ciba India Ltd.) in 1998. Jimmy became Managing Director and Country Head (2001-02) and Vice Chairman and Managing Director (2002-06). From August 2006 to August 2009 he was the Chairman of Ciba India Ltd.