Sapru was voted as one of the 'CEOs who Rock' by Asia Africa Intelligence Wire in 2003 and was also an honorary fellow of the All India Management Association.
He was the grandson of Indian lawyer, political, and social leader Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru, Jagdish Narain Sapru was born on 16 November 1933 in Allahabad (in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh) to a Kashmiri Brahmin family.
He joined the board in 1974, and became chairman in 1983, succeeding his brother-in-law Ajit Narain Haksar.
In his tenure as chairman, Sapru was responsible for ITC diversifying into the agriculture sector.
Sapru was survived by his wife Gita, two sons, Nirukt and Rakesh, daughters-in-law Abha and Sonya, and three grandchildren Abhirukt, Mihika and Sarojini.