Kumar Mangalam Birla is the Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, one of the largest conglomerates in India,  operating in 36 countries.  Birla was raised in Mumbai and received his bachelor’s degree from H.R. College of Commerce and Economics. He became a Chartered Accountant and completed his MBA at the London Business School. He took over as Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group in 1995 at the age of 28. Under his leadership, the Aditya Birla Group has grown into a multinational conglomerate with interests in metals, cement, telecommunications, and retail. Today, the group is present in 41 countries across six continents.

Birla chaired the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Committee on Corporate Governance, which laid down key principles of corporate governance norms.  He is also a strong advocate for education and philanthropy, serving as Chancellor of the Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) and supporting initiatives like the Nanhi Kali project for educating underprivileged girls. Pilani is also the former chairman of Indian Institute of Management.

Recognized globally for his leadership, Birla has received numerous awards, including the Padma Bhushan in 2023 and the Global Leadership Award from the US India Business Council. Indiaspora is proud to have Kumar Mangalam Birla on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.