Holck-Larsen was educated at the
University of Copenhagen (and what is now the
Technical University of Denmark). He came to
India in 1937 as a chemical engineer working for
F. L. Smidth & Co. of
Copenhagen. Partnering with his former schoolmate and fellow employee
Søren Kristian Toubro, he set up
Larsen & Toubro in 1938. The idea of L&T was conceived during a holiday in
Matheran, a hill station near
Mumbai. Holck-Larsen was a risk-taker while Toubro was more conservative. Holck-Larsen and Toubro saw opportunities in India at a time when few Europeans had realised the country's potential for industrial growth. The first office of L&T, located in Mumbai, was so small that only one of them could use it at a time. Initially, L&T represented Danish dairy equipment manufacturers. However, the Danish imports were restricted during the
World War II, forcing L&T to start a small workshop that provided servicing and undertook small jobs. The imports stopped after the
German invasion of Denmark, forcing L&T to start manufacturing dairy equipment indigenously, a move that was successful. After retirement, Holck-Larsen served as the chairman emeritus of the company. He used to call India his "adopted homeland" and divided his time between Denmark and India. He died in 2003 at the Breach Candy hospital,
Mumbai. == Awards and recognitions ==