Wikipedia

Kumar Mangalam Birla

Kumar Mangalam Birla (born 14 June 1967) is an Indian billionaire businessman. He is the chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, one of the largest conglomerates in India. He is the chancellor of the Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani[1] and ex-chairman of Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.[2] In 2023, Birla received the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian honour in India.[3]

Kumar Mangalam Birla
Birla in 2019
Born (1967-06-14) 14 June 1967 (age 57)
Calcutta (now Kolkata), West Bengal, India
Alma materUniversity of Mumbai (BCom)
London Business School (MBA)
TitleChairman of Aditya Birla Group
Spouse
Neerja Birla
​
(m. 1989)​
Children3 (including Ananya Birla, Aryaman Birla)
Parent(s)Aditya Vikram Birla and Rajashree Birla
RelativesSee Birla family
AwardsPadma Bhushan (2023)

As of December 2024, Forbes estimated his net worth at US$23.1 billion.[4]

Born to Aditya Vikram Birla, the eldest of two children, he took over as chairman of the Aditya Birla Group in 1995, at the age of 28, following the death of his father.[5][6] During Birla's tenure as chairman, the group's annual turnover increased from US$2 billion in 1995 to US$66 billion as of March 2024,[7] with operations in 40 countries.[8]

Early life and education

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A fourth generation member of the Birla Family from Pilani, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, Birla was born in Kolkata and grew up in a joint family in Mumbai with his parents Aditya Vikram Birla and Rajashree Birla and younger sister Vasavadatta Birla.[9][10] He did his high school from Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics and a bachelor's degree from H.R. College of Commerce and Economics of the University of Mumbai. He later studied at London Business School and obtained Master of Business Administration from University of London in 1992. He is also an honorary fellow at LBS.[11] He is a chartered accountant from Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).[12]

Family and children

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In January 2023, Birla's children, Ananya Birla and Aryaman Vikram Birla, were appointed as Directors of Grasim Industries, Hindalco Industries, and Aditya Birla Management Corporation Private Limited (ABMCPL), and joined the board of Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL).[13]

Career

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1995–2015

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In 1995, Birla took over the family business and consolidated all the group companies under the brand – Aditya Birla Group (ABG).[14] Birla acquired Indian Aluminum Company (INDAL) in 2000.[15] In 2003, Hindalco Industries acquired Nifty Copper Mines in Australia, while the Aditya Birla Group acquired the Mount Gordon Copper mines in Australia.[16][17] In 2004, Birla acquired a majority stake in L&T Cement, which was later renamed UltraTech Cement.[18] In the same year, Hindalco Industries announced a merger with all the businesses of Indian Aluminium Company (Indal).[19]

In 2007, Hindalco acquired Atlanta-based Novelis Inc, which was the world's leading producer of aluminium rolled products.[20] In 2012, Birla's Aditya Birla Nuvo Ltd acquired Future Group's Pantaloon Retail Limited in India.[21] In 2013, Aditya Birla Chemicals acquired the chlor-alkali and phosphoric acid divisions of Solaris Chemtech Industries in India.[22]

Birla's name surfaced in Indian coal allocation scandal, pertaining to the allocation of coal blocks between 2004 and 2009.[23] In 2014, CBI filed closure report against Birla.[24] Since 2015, the Aditya Birla Group consolidated its branded apparel business under its lifestyle retail firm Pantaloons Fashion and Retail India Ltd and renamed it as Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail, creating India's largest branded clothing company by revenue and number of sales outlets.[25]

2016–present

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By 2016, Birla launched a new logo for the Aditya Birla Group.[26] In June 2017, UltraTech Cement, chaired by Birla, completed the acquisition of Jaiprakash Associates' six cement plants along with five grinding units.[27] In the same year, Birla revived Applause Entertainment, a media, content and IP creation studio with a focus on creating premium digital drama series.[28]

In 2018, the Aditya Birla Group-owned Idea Cellular merged with Vodafone India to create India's then largest telecom service provider, Vodafone Idea. Also in 2018, UltraTech Cement acquired the cement business of Century Textiles, while Binani Cement became a wholly-owned subsidiary of UltraTech Cement.[29] [30] In 2018, Novelis entered into an agreement to acquire Aleris Corporation. The deal was closed for $2.8 billion in 2020.[31]

In 2021, Grasim Industries entered the paints business with an investment of ₹5,000 crore, paid over three years.[32] In August 2021, Birla stepped down as the non-executive chairman of Vodafone Idea.[33][34]

Under Birla's chairmanship, UltraTech Cement announced plans to expand its grey cement production capacity to 200 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) with an investment of ₹32,400 crore.[35] In November 2023, he oversaw the acquisition of Kesoram Industries' cement assets for ₹7,600 crore.[36] By the end of 2023, UltraTech had increased its production capacity by 18.7 MTPA, with an additional 35.5 MTPA in a planned manner across 16 locations.[35] In April 2024, two new greenfield projects were commissioned, adding 5.4 MTPA in Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu.[37] By April 2024, UltraTech's total grey cement manufacturing capacity had reached 151.6 MTPA.[37]

In July 2024, Aditya Birla Group launched its jewellery brand Indriya with an investment of ₹5,000 crore.[38][39]

Recognition

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Birla has received several awards, including the International Advertising Association's "CEO of the Year Award" in 2016; the US India Business Council's "Global Leadership Award" in 2014; Economic Times "Business Leader Award" in 2003 and 2013; Forbes India Leadership Award – Flagship Award "Entrepreneur of the Year 2012; NDTV Profit Business Leadership Awards 2012, "Most Inspiring Leader"; CNBCTV18 IBLA "Business Leader for Taking India Abroad 2012"; CNN-IBN "Indian of the Year Award 2010"; JRD Tata "Leadership Award 2008"; NDTV's "Global Indian Leader of the Year 2007".[40]

An educationist, Birla is the Chancellor of Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) and BITS School of Management (BITSoM) also BITS Law School (BITSLaW). He is chairman of IIT Delhi, IIM Ahmedabad and chairman of the Rhodes India Scholarship Committee for Oxford University. He sits on the London Business School's Asia Pacific Advisory Board and is an honorary fellow of the London Business School.[41]

Board memberships and affiliations

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  • Chairman, Aditya Birla Group
  • Chancellor, BITS, Pilani, Hyderabad, Goa and Dubai.[42]
  • Chairman, Governing Council, The BITS School of Management (BITSoM).[43]
  • Chairman, Board of Governors, BITS Law School, Mumbai (BITSLAW).[44]
  • Chairman, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.
  • Member, Asia Pacific Advisory Board, London Business School (LBS).
  • Chairman, Rhodes India Scholarship Committee for Oxford University, England.
  • Director, G. D. Birla Medical Research and Education Foundation.[45]
  • Former Chairman, IIT Delhi.[46]
  • Former Director, Central Board of Directors, Reserve Bank of India.[47]
  • Former Chairman, Advisory Committee, Ministry of Company Affairs.
  • Former Chairman, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Committee on Corporate Governance.
  • Former Chairman, Board of Trade, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
  • Former Chairman, SEBI's Committee on Insider Trading.[48]
  • Former Convener, PM's Task Force on Administrative and Legal Simplifications.
  • Former Member, Prime Minister of India's Advisory Council on Trade and Industry.[45]

Honors and awards

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Year Name Awarding Organisation Ref.
2001 Outstanding Business Man of the Year National HRD Network [49]
2003 The Business Leader of the Year The Economic Times [50]
2003 Business Man of the Year Business India [citation needed]
2004 Young Global Leader World Economic Forum (Davos)
2004 Doctor of Literature (Honoris causa) Banaras Hindu University [51]
2005 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year – India Ernst & Young
2007 Global Indian Leader of the Year NDTV [52]
2008 JRD Tata Corporate Leadership Award AIMA [53]
2008 Doctor of Literature SRM University [54]
2011 GQ Business Leader of the Year Condé Nast India Pvt. Ltd. [55]
2012 Entrepreneur of the Year Forbes India Leadership Award (FILA) [56]
2012 Most Inspiring Leader NDTV [57]
2012 Business Leader for Taking India Abroad CNBCTV18 [58]
2012 Global Business Leader Award NASSCOM [59]
2012 Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) Visvesvaraya Technological University [60]
2013 The Business Leader of the Year The Economic Times [61]
2013 Positioned the fourth Most Powerful CEO Economic Times' Corporate India's Definitive Power posting of 100 CEOs [62]
2014 Inducted as an Honorary Member Rotary Club of Mumbai [63]
2016 CEO of the Year International Advertising Association [64]
2017 Outstanding Businessman of the Year CNBC-TV18 – IBLA [65]
2017 The GIL Visionary Leadership Award Frost & Sullivan [66]
2019 Global Asian Award ABLF [67]
2021 Global Entrepreneur of the Year' in business transformation The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) [68]
2023 Padma Bhushan Government of India [69]
2023 Business Leader of the Decade Award All India Management Association (AIMA) [70]

Philanthropy

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As per the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2021, Kumar Mangalam Birla and his family ranked fourth on the philanthropy list with donations mostly to the healthcare sector.[71] In 2020, the Aditya Birla Group contributed ₹500 crore towards COVID relief measures, including ₹400 crore to the PM CARES Fund.[72]

Birla created a ₤15 million endowed scholarship programme to support 10 full-time MBA candidates every year at the London Business School. The BK Birla Scholars Programme, named after Birla's late grandfather Basant Kumar Birla, is the largest endowed scholarship gift to a European business school.[73]

The Birla family has built schools and temples around the India, including BITS Pilani and Birla Mandirs.[74][75]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla – Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group". Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  2. ^ "Kumar Mangalam Birla appointed as new chairman of IIM-A". The Indian Express. 23 October 2016.
  3. ^ "Kumar Mangalam Birla receives Padma Bhushan award". The Hindu. 22 March 2023. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Forbes Profile: Kumar Birla". Forbes.com. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  5. ^ "Kumar Mangalam Birla History Maker Founder of Aditya Birla Group". APHerald [Andhra Pradesh Herald].
  6. ^ "I had no choice but to grow up fast: Kumar Mangalam Birla".
  7. ^ "Aditya Birla Group: Of challenges and opportunities". Business Standard. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Kumar Mangalam Birla". 12 August 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  9. ^ "Forbes Profile: Kumar Birla". Forbes.com. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  10. ^ "The story of the first couple of the Birla empire". Rediff.com. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  11. ^ "Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla – Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group". Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  12. ^ "Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla". abg.com.
  13. ^ "Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam's children Ananya, Aryaman join Hindalco board". Mint (newspaper).
  14. ^ "Kumar Mangalam: The biggest Birla". Rediff. 19 September 2005. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  15. ^ "Milestones – Aditya Birla Group". abg.com. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  16. ^ "Hindalco to acquire Nifty copper mine in Australia". The Times of India. 24 January 2003. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  17. ^ "Birla Copper Buys Aussie Mining Firm". Financial Express. 25 January 2003. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  18. ^ "L&T Cement is now UltraTech Cement". The Hindu Businessline. 14 October 2004. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  19. ^ "Indal's metals businesses to be merged with Hindalco". The Economic Times. 24 August 2004. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  20. ^ "Hindalco buys US-based Novelis Inc for $6 billion". Hindustan Times. 17 February 2007. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  21. ^ "Aditya Birla to buy Pantaloons retail chain". Livemint. 1 May 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  22. ^ "Aditya Birla Chem to acquire Solaris Chemtech unit". Livemint. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  23. ^ "Kumar Mangalam Birla embroiled in Coalgate case with CBI filing 14th FIR". financialexpress.com. 16 October 2013.
  24. ^ "CBI files closure report against Kumar Mangalam Birla in coal block allocation scam". m.businesstoday.in. 29 August 2014.
  25. ^ "Aditya Birla Group to merge apparel business units". Livemint. 4 May 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2022.[permanent dead link‍]
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  27. ^ "UltraTech completes acquisition of Jaiprakash group cement business". The Times of India. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  28. ^ "Kumar Mangalam Birla revives Applause Entertainment for content play". Livemint. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  29. ^ "UltraTech to buy Century's cement business in Rs 8,621 crore deal". The Times of India. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  30. ^ "Binani Cement becomes UltraTech's subsidiary". The Hindu Businessline. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  31. ^ "Hindalco's subsidiary Novelis completes $2.8 bn acquisition of Aleris". Business Standard. 14 April 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  32. ^ "Grasim approves Rs 5,000-crore capex for paints business". Economic Times. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  33. ^ "Kumar Mangalam Birla steps down from Vodafone Idea board after stake offer". Business Standard. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  34. ^ "Kumar Mangalam Birla: As acquisitive as ever". Fortune India. 24 September 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  35. ^ a b Suri, Naman. "UltraTech announces ₹32,400 crore capex for expansion in the next three years". Mint (newspaper).
  36. ^ "UltraTech to buy building materials business of Kesoram in 7,600 crore deal". The Times of India. 1 December 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  37. ^ a b "UltraTech Cement crosses 150 mtpa capacity milestone". The Hindu. 2 April 2024. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  38. ^ Bhattacharyya, Rica (5 November 2024). "Novel Jewels to open 100 stores in 18 months". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  39. ^ "Retail India News: Aditya Birla Group's Indriya Expands Footprint with Third Store in New Delhi". Indian Retailer. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  40. ^ "Kumar Mangalam Birla History Maker Founder of Aditya Birla Group". indiaherald.com.
  41. ^ "London Business School Honours Mr Kumar Mangalam Birla". Businesswireindia.com. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  42. ^ "BITS Pilani to invest ₹1,500 cr to set up B-school in Mumbai". Livemint. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  43. ^ "BITSoM to collaborate with London Business School for global immersions, executive education". Economic Times. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  44. ^ "Leadership Team | BITS Law School – Mumbai". www.bitslawschool.edu.in. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  45. ^ a b "Kumar Mangalam Birla, a top-notch industry man with a passion to educate". Hindustan Times. 24 November 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  46. ^ "Kumar Mangalam Birla named new chairman of IIT Delhi Board". Hindustan Times. 21 January 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  47. ^ "Kumar Birla, Premji on RBI central board". Hindustan Times. 19 January 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  48. ^ "Sebi notifies strict amendments to insider trading regulations". Financial Express. 23 February 2002. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  49. ^ "Reverse brain-drain trend: Birla". The Times of India. 9 September 2001.
  50. ^ "Parekh gets ET lifetime achievement award". The Times of India. 16 September 2003.
  51. ^ "Brijmohan Lall Munjal Honored with D.Litt. at BHU".
  52. ^ "NDTV Profit Business Leadership Awards 2010".
  53. ^ "AIMA Website".
  54. ^ "SRM University Website". Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  55. ^ "GQ India". 29 September 2011.
  56. ^ "Forbes India".
  57. ^ "NDTV Profit".
  58. ^ "India Times". 15 October 2013.
  59. ^ "NASSCOM".
  60. ^ "Times of India". The Times of India. 9 April 2012.
  61. ^ "Economic Times". 26 September 2013.
  62. ^ "Most Powerful CEOs 2013: What the 2030 list may look like". The Economic Times. 13 July 2013.
  63. ^ "ROTARIANS CAPTIVATED BY KUMAR MANGALAM BIRLA". 18 November 2014.
  64. ^ "K M Birla, Bharat Patel felicitated at ad awards show".
  65. ^ "CNBC-TV18 hosts 13th edition of India Business Leader Awards; Kumar Mangalam Birla named Outstanding Businessman of the Year". 7 April 2018.
  66. ^ "The Hindu Business Online". 11 September 2017.
  67. ^ "Kumar Mangalam Birla conferred ABLF Global Asian award". 7 November 2019.
  68. ^ Dilipkumar, Bhavya (16 December 2021). "Kumar Mangalam Birla receives Global Entrepreneur of the Year Award from TiE". The Economic Times.
  69. ^ "Full list of 2023 Padma awards". The Hindu. 25 January 2023. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  70. ^ "Kumar Mangalam Birla is AIMA's 'Business Leader of the Decade'". Business Today. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  71. ^ "EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2021 Top 10 most generous people in India". Moneycontrol. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  72. ^ "Covid-19: Aditya Birla Group donates Rs 500 crores in PM-CARES fund". India Today. 4 April 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  73. ^ Gaur, Vatsala (11 July 2019). "London Business School gets a 15 million pound endowed scholarship gift from KM Birla to honour BK Birla's legacy". Economic Times. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  74. ^ "Explained: Why are top business leaders betting big on education institutes?". Moneycontrol. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  75. ^ "B.K. Birla: The conscious capitalist with nationalism at heart". Moneycontrol. 5 July 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
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