Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, is a successful entrepreneur and leading philanthropist. Despite facing skepticism and inheriting a giant business house at a young age, he proved his sharp business sense and brought about positive changes in the organization. Along with preserving the company’s reputation, he also showed interest in evolving sectors and contributed significantly towards the growth of weaker sections of society.
Quick Facts
- Indian Celebrities Born In June Age: 56 Years, 56 Year Old Males
- Family: Spouse/Ex-: Neerja Birla, father: Aditya Vikram Birla
- Telecommunication
- IT & Software Entrepreneurs
- Founder/Co-Founder: UltraTech Cement
- Education: London Business School, University of Mumbai, H.R. College of Commerce and Economics
Childhood & Early Life
Kumar Mangalam Birla was born on June 14, 1967, in a Marwari business family. His parents are Aditya Vikram Birla and Rajashri Birla. He has a sister named Vasavadatta. Being a fourth-generation member of the business family, he spent most of his childhood in Mumbai and Kolkata. Growing up, he was constantly aware of his family name, wealth, and the responsibility that came with it. After completing his school education, he obtained a B.Com degree from the University of Bombay. He then became a Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. He further pursued his studies abroad and completed his MBA from London Business School in the UK.
Career
In 1995, at the age of 28, Kumar Mangalam Birla took over as the Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group of Companies after the sudden demise of his father. Despite doubts about his abilities to handle such a large organization, he proved his critics wrong. He not only consolidated the company’s position in existing businesses but also expanded into new areas such as Telecom, Software, BPO, and more. Currently, he holds the position of Chairman of the $40 billion multinational with operations in over 40 countries across six continents. He has also held various important positions such as Chairman of the Board of Trade, Chairman of the Ministry of Company Affairs’ Advisory Committee, Chairman of SEBI’s Committee on Corporate Governance, and more. He is actively involved in organizations such as the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Centre for Corporate Governance.
Major Works
One of Kumar Mangalam Birla’s significant achievements is the radical changes he implemented in the Aditya Birla Group as its Chairman. He transformed the business strategies, professionalized the entire group, and accelerated its growth over the years. As a philanthropist, he is also involved in welfare-driven activities that positively impact the quality of life for the weaker sections of society in various countries, including India, Thailand, and Egypt.
Awards & Achievements
Kumar Mangalam Birla has received numerous awards and recognition for his contributions. In 2003, he was conferred ‘The Business Leader of the Year’ by The Economic Times and ‘Business Man of the Year’ by Business India. In 2005, he was honored with ‘The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year-India’. He has also been named ‘Global Indian Leader of the Year’ by NDTV and ‘The Most Socially Responsible Leader’ by Outlook business magazine. He has received awards such as ‘JRD Tata Corporate Leadership Award’, ‘The Corporate Role Model Award’, ‘Entrepreneur of the Decade Award’, ‘CNN-IBN Indian of the Year– Business’, and more. He has also been recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and as the Management Man of the Year by the Bombay Management Association.
Personal Life & Legacy
Kumar Mangalam Birla is married to Neerja Kasliwal, who is a full-time homemaker with no business ambitions. The couple has three children: two daughters named Ananyashree and Advaitesha, and a son named Aryaman Vikram.