Tonse Ramesh Upendra Pai, son of Tonse Upendra Ananth Pai was the Chairman of MahaRashtra Apex Corporation Ltd.
He was also the Director of several Joint stock Companies, including Reliance Industries.
He was awarded the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award in 1998.
He was the recipient of 'State Award' from the Government of Karnataka in 1998 for his contribution in education, and recipient of the highest honour award of Rotary International for Rotarians "Service Above self Award" for 2001–02.