Kumar Mangalam Birla


Kumar Mangalam Birla is an Indian billionaire industrialist, and the chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, one of the largest conglomerates in India. He is also the chancellor of the Birla Institute of Technology & Science, and the chairman of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.

Early life and education

Birla is a fourth-generation member of the Marwari Birla family from the state of Rajasthan. He was born in Kolkata and raised in Mumbai. 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, and a MBA degree from London Business School, where he is an honorary fellow. He is also a Chartered Accountant from Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

Career

Birla took over as chairman of the Aditya Birla Group in 1995, at the age of 28, following the death of his father Aditya Vikram Birla. During his tenure as chairman, the group's annual turnover has increased from US$3.33 Billion in 1995 to US$48.3 billion in 2019.
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”.
An educationist, Birla is the Chancellor of Birla Institute of Technology & Science. He is chairman of IIT Delhi, IIM Ahmedabad and chairman of Rhodes India Scholarship Committee for Oxford University. He serves on London Business School's Asia Pacific Advisory Board and is an honorary fellow of the London Business School.