Nikhil Nanda (born 18 March 1974) is an Indian businessman. He is the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Escorts Kubota Limited (formerly Escorts Limited), an Indian multinational engineering conglomerate that specialises in agricultural, construction and railways equipment and machinery. He is a third-generation entrepreneur, being the grandson of Raj Nanda and Har Prasad Nanda, who founded the company in 1944, and son of Rajan Nanda, who served as the CMD of the group util August 2018.

Nikhil Nanda
Born (1974-03-18) 18 March 1974 (age 50)
Alma materUniversity of Pennsylvania
OccupationBusinessman
Spouse
(m. 1997)
Children2[1][2]
Relatives

Early life and background

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Nikhil Nanda was born on 18 March 1974[3] in New Delhi to a Punjabi Hindu family. His father, Rajan Nanda from Fazilka, was an industrialist and the chairman and managing director of Escorts Group.[4] His mother, Ritu Nanda[5] (daughter of Raj Kapoor and Krishna Kapoor), worked as an insurance agent for Life Insurance Corporation.

He did his primary schooling from Hillgrange Prepratory School in Dehradun. He is an alumnus of The Doon School in Dehradun, India. After completing his schooling, he studied business management at Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, United States, where he majored in finance and marketing.[6][7]

His maternal grandfather was actor-director Raj Kapoor and his great-grandfather, Prithviraj Kapoor, was an actor. Actors Rishi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor and Rajiv Kapoor are his maternal uncles, while actresses Neetu Singh and Babita are his aunts by marriage. Actors Karisma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Armaan Jain and Aadar Jain are his maternal first cousins.[8][9]

Career

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Nikhil Nanda joined Escorts Limited in 1997, initially serving as its Director and group Chief Operating Officer. In 2012, the construction equipment subsidiary Escorts Construction Equipment Limited merged into Escorts Limited.

He was promoted to Joint Managing Director of the group in 2007, and in 2013 to Managing Director. Under his leadership, the company launched the Farmtrac premium tractor series in 2014. It also unveiled India's first-ever electric concept tractor in 2017, an automated concept tractor in 2018 and a hybrid concept tractor in 2019.

He took over as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the group in August 2018, after the death of his father Rajan Nanda.

In 2021, Escorts Limited entered into a collaboration with Kubota Corporation, with Kubota raising its equity stake in the group. The group was eventually renamed as Escorts Kubota Limited in 2022.

Nikhil Nanda was appointed as the Senior Managing Executive Officer of Kubota Corporation, General Manager of Value Innovative Farm and Industrial Machinery Strategy & Operations of Kubota Corporation.

Personal life

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Nanda married Shweta Bachchan, daughter of film actors Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan, on 16 February 1997.[10] The couple has two children, daughter Navya Naveli Nanda (born December 1997), an entrepreneur, and son Agastya Nanda (born November 2000), an actor.[11]

Recognition and awards

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In 2001, Nikhil Nanda was selected as one of the Global Leaders of Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum, Geneva. He was appointed by the Indian government to represent the country at the Indo-Spain CEOs Forum in 2017. He was named the ‘Best CEO-Auto & Auto Ancillaries’ by Business Today for the period 2019-2020.

He is a member of several industry bodies such as the CII National Council, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Young President’s Organization (YPO).

References

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  1. ^ filmyposters.com (9 July 2023). "Navya Naveli Nanda Net Worth, Height, Age, Boyfriend, Family, Biography, and 1 best photo – filmyposters". filmyposters.com. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  2. ^ filmyposters.com (9 July 2023). "Agstya Nanda Net worth, Age, Height, Girlfriend, Family, Wiki, Bio, and 1 best photo – filmyposters". filmyposters.com. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  3. ^ "About". Nikhil Nanda. 21 November 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  4. ^ "Who was Rajan Nanda?". 6 August 2018.
  5. ^ "Raj Kapoor's daughter Ritu Nanda was top LIC insurance agent; held this world record". Financial Express. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  6. ^ Singh, Sanghita (18 May 2002). "Nikhil Nanda: The business of life". The Times of India.
  7. ^ "Nikhil Nanda appointed as chairman and MD of Escorts". livemint. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  8. ^ "After funeral, Bachchans, Kapoors express solidarity with Nanda family". Deccan Chronicle. 8 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  9. ^ "Abhishek Bachchan, brother-in-law Nikhil Nanda immerse Rajan Nanda's ashes in Haridwar". Hindustan Times. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  10. ^ Gaikwad, Pramod (11 January 2020). "Why Shweta Bachchan-Nanda lives with her parents, separately from in-laws, husband". IB Times. Archived from the original on 30 April 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Navya Nanda is proud of her dad Nikhil Nanda as he wins award: 'Can't wait to carry forward this incredible legacy'". Hindustan Times. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.